Family Reunions...reconnecting, searching and desiring to know about our origin and our family roots.
Larry and I had the privilege this year of hosting the Brook's family reunion which included my nine brothers, myself, mates, children and grandchildren. Of course, at every reunion, there's a traditional time of taking photos. I was standing back as Larry was lining everyone up; needless to say I found myself caught up in the moment looking at ALL the family members.
It reminded me of something I once heard which compared the family unit to a handmade quilt. Each family member was special, beautiful and unique. Each family piece represented and added a distinct creative design in our huge family quilt. The children and grandchildren with their smiles, twinkles, mischievousness and humor added much joy and laughter to the memorable event. Then I considered and scanned the adults. I reminisced all those special moments that contributed to the design of their quilt piece: weddings, births of their little ones, graduations, the success of goals and accomplishments, college and job promotions, business ventures, and for several, now retirement.
In reality there were also the family quilt pieces that weren't as beautiful or attractive. In fact, some were painful, tattered and frayed by reminders of unexpected deaths of loved ones, broken relationships, broken dreams, loss of jobs and financial crisis. There was a brother facing cancer surgery and others facing serious health issues. I'm sure these pieces were stained with tears, yet they still smile even if only for a few moments feeling secure, loved, and surrounded by family.
We are family, not a perfect family. We have failed and made mistakes, but we have learned to appreciate the pieces that remind us how to love, give and forgive - and when problems arise, we pull together and pull for each other.
Of course, the main piece of the quilt that was beautiful and stunning, the piece that we are all stitched to, is our mother, Julie Brooks, who will be 95 in November. She is our crown jewel piece that gently displays her unconditional love for each one of us. She is the center piece of this family quilt that has tied us tightly to her with threads of integrity, honesty, humor, forgiveness, faith, perseverance and prayers. These attributes have woven each of us tightly to each other as she has instilled within us that, "Family is forever...and forever a family in heaven."
At the end of our momentous celebration, my mother concluded in prayer her favorite verse out of Joshua, "As for me and our house...." And she looked around at all of us in the circle and commissioned, "We will serve the Lord." She then chuckled and concluded, "This 95th birthday was so much fun...I can hardly wait for my hundredth!" So Lord, may it be granted.
- Gloria