In a faded, old photo album I read the words "Family makes you feel whole and strong - vibrant and needed." The words are typed on an ancient typewriter, long gone in our travels and moves from house to house and country to country. The pictures that surround the words have lost their color and appear true vintage with no filter.
I typed those words when we were living in Islamabad, Pakistan - miles from blood relatives. I wanted to create something special for my husband, a photo album of our family at the time. We were young and had a boy and a girl. We were all quite perfect in those days. Pretty and fresh-faced, without the weathering that life brings with its hard fights and its days of no return.
The truth is that in this age where family often loses its meaning, I like family. Family is my favorite. I more than like family - I love family.
We have just returned to Cambridge from a family wedding. My niece, Allison, married Paul. Paul comes from a large Italian family and I instantly loved his mom, Patty, and his Aunt Joan. They are women I would go to war with - or at least gossip with at a family wedding.
The wedding took place outside in a rustic setting, on the shoreline of Irondequoit Bay. Chairs were set up outside beside a small dock, while the dinner was set to be served at the waterfront lodge, with stunning views of the Bay. A sudden, and violent summer storm had all of us scrambling and rearranging the ceremony venue to take place in the lodge. It was a picture of a family willing to go with whatever happened, determined that marriage would win over weather every time. A more brilliant metaphor for marriage is not possible and I know in my gut that these two will make it.
My niece was dressed in classic vintage - lace, a netted veil, and stunningly beautiful. She walked down the unexpected indoor aisle, and the ceremony began.
Who gives this woman? 'Solemn vows that none of us can possibly keep without the grace and mercy of God. Readings from the Songs of Solomon and Wendell Berry. Rings exchanged. In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. The sacramental pronouncement of a union authored by God, ordained by God, kept only by God's goodness. You may kiss the bride. And then wild cheers and the song "Will the Circle, be unbroken, by and by Lord, by and by?"A celebration followed where there wasn't enough time to talk to everyone that we wanted to; where we enjoyed great food and amazing company; where family gathered, at one with each other and the spirit of the day. Even a nest of bright, blue robin's eggs joined in the celebration. Not a sacrament, but a symbol of our God's love of beauty and life.
In a world that is fearful and cynical, a world where marriage is discarded for something far easier and less permanent, a world where the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit have little to do with daily life, I once again bear witness to a family willing to live counter-culture. I once again witness the proclamation of the truth of marriage, once again hear vows that are humanly impossible being promised.For better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness, in health, to love and to cherish, until death parts us and we are ushered into something even better then the best marriage possible.
I fell into bed that night in happy exhaustion.
Because I love weddings and the families that go with them. Because family does make me feel whole and strong, vibrant and needed.
So, Yes - I like family. Family is my favorite.