So What are Family Values?

To me family values is about being a family that is close enough to talk about anything with each other; open communication and understanding, while trying hard enough to please other and most importantly is respect for one another. If you don't have respect, you have lost. Its not strictly about just a man a woman together; its about working together, loving, caring, and respect. No hatred or discrimination is ever acceptable.

My husband and I are best friends and we meant it deeply when we said our vows on our wedding day. In sickness and in health we walk strong together and have for the past five and half years of marriage. It hasn't exactly been easy living with cancer those years either, but our bond is unbreakable. We are there for each other to love, to accept, to cry with, to laugh with, and most importantly, we help each other out when in need.

This photo should say it all. A very close friend of mine took this photo and it has to be one of the most beautiful photos I have ever seen and most importantly it is of someone I love and care very deeply about; my husband and best friend. You can just see the love and concern in his eyes as well as the suffering that he has endured. If this isn't a testimony of true love, I have no idea what is. I love him as if he were a family member and actually he is now. We are family and most importantly we are friends too. Love, Family, and Friendship.

As far as family bonds, it does seem that these days with the advancement of technology, texting, video games and all the things that take the personalization of a simple hello away sort of adds more distraction and less communication with families. It's still the same each generation with teens knowing more how to operate all the advances in technology, but less and less how to drive; ok granted they can still figure out how to operate the stereo, gps, and so on, but driving is completely different. It always comes with experience and making mature decisions; much like life.

A good friend of mine told me about this young boy that was dating her grand daughter and how his family life differed. His father was always very friendly downtown with all the ladies. It seemed he knew just about everyone and the son just thought his father was a very popular guy until one day when he was around 13 or so, they just driving down the road together when they saw a young boy walking on the sidewalk. The father points out to the boy that this is his brother. The son thought the father was kidding but the seriousness in his face proved otherwise. He then learned later that he had about 13 other brothers in sisters all over town. Where were the morals in his father that he could look up to? He cheated on his mother and lived more than just a double life. Respect out the window completely. The other brothers and sisters may or may not have gotten the fatherly support that they too deserved.

Having children is a gift and should never ever be taken for granted. Not everyone is able to have children and if you have them, consider yourself lucky. They each are individuals and they may get on your last nerve, but they are life and our future. Its so important to cherish right now with them if you have it; they don't stay young forever and its important that they too have future. We shouldn't be wasting our future away as we do with energy, oil, this endless war, and so much more. I only hope that our next president values all of us, that he doesn't just lower taxes for the extremely wealthy while forcing the middle class into poverty, draft our children into more wars for more oil, and most importantly has a plan for our future for generations to come.