WHO AM I?
Is there any force in this world stronger in mankind
than LOVE?
For many years, a young mother became stranded
thousands of miles away from her family. Her
children didn't know any of there relatives at all, other than a name or
two. They felt very isolated and yet wanted to know who they were. One
day the mother gathered up her children and took them to a week long
family reunion. The children huddled close to there mom as they felt
nervous around so many strangers. The mom worked hard herself at trying
to find the place she would fit in, with little success. The family was
loving, however; none of them knew the lady or her children and had
nothing
to talk about with her. Even when the lady sat with her children at
tables with other family members, no one spoke with them. For the most
part, everyone stayed close to the people they knew best. It is always
more comfortable that way. The grandmother, great grandmother as well as
all the ants and uncles were so busy with immediate family that the lady
returned home very disappointed. A few of her children made friends with
other children there, but no great love developed.
Soon after the family reunion, the lady drew close to
one of her best friends family. She already knew many if them and lived
so close to them that she was able to see them all the time. The young
lady was told that she should just forget her family and change her last
name to theirs! Calling all of her children together she made the
announcement. Most of them were delighted to make the change, but not
all. One of the sons went
home disillusioned and confused about who he was.
As the son grew apart from them, he moved far away
where he met some distant relatives that had been at the reunion. He was
welcomed into the family as one of there own. Together they laughed and
cried in the good and bad times of everyday life. They cared for him
when he was sick and he stayed with them when they were sick. He was a
full part of there family in every way but one, blood. He was loved and
cared for like never before and thought in his mind that he was one of
them.
Soon time came for the family reunion once more. At
the reunion he was expected to stay with his mothers family even though
all of his brothers and sisters changed there last name and left the
family along with his mom, long ago! All that he really knew was a few
of his cousins that he had become friends with by writing letters. As
great as it was to see them, they were very busy with there babies and
close family most of the time. He felt so out of place with all the
people he didn't even know. It was so sad that
hundreds of people he knew and loved were there, yet so far away.
Missing his loved ones so much, he and his companion set out to find the
loving family that he really knew. It's hard to say who found who
because he heard his name being called out by them long before he saw
them. Both he and his partner were surrounded by adopted family all
waiting to give each of them a huge hug. The genuine love that all of
them share for each other was so powerful that the minutes became hours
and the hours became days. They shared many great memories together that
continue to bond them close today.
He understood how his mom's family stayed close in
there small family groups as it was no different than how he felt with
his adopted family. He knew he was loved and excepted by the other
family even though they really weren't close. No harm was done or meant
by a man longing to be with his loving family and taking the time to
share time and space with them. Time taken out of there lives that can
never be relived or taken from them. Time with the people most important
in his life, the ones he loves! A warm and content feeling about his
mom's family came over him, knowing that they to took care of the ones
close to them! He was just like them after all, drawn close to others by
the force of love!
It was at that family reunion that he knew without a
doubt who he was. He is always going to be from his mothers family and
blood line. He will always be proud to clam himself by there name and
look forward to seeing them every year in July. He looks forward to the
day he can visit his mothers family and see the home town they all live
in. But in July and all the rest of the year long there is a force to
strong to fight. He will be drawn close to the family that took him in
and made him one of there own, he will be with
them under the force of love! In the world of love, he is one of them. I
never want to post a writing that would stir things up a little and
divide friends on an issue. I'm posting this post in hopes to comfort
the many friends that find themselves in the same boat or will real
soon! I hope and pray that all of you will take a look at my honesty and
think about what I'm really saying!
Wishing all of you PEACE, HAPPINESS and LOVE, Hank
This page last updated July 06, 2005
