family

Having spoken to a few of my friends post holiday season we have all found that we had in common that even though we love our families to bits we can find spending time with them trying. It's funny that it's like that. I used to feel guilty if I did not speak highly of my parents or brothers all the time or if I said anything negative of them. But I think to not acknowledge their faults is not to see them as they truly are - God's dearly loved children but sinners all the same, with many imperfections and flaws. And just because I can see their faults does not mean I love them any less or would mean that others (including myself) would think less of them. I deeply love and value my family - for all our annoyances and irritations, the moment when one of us is in need we are all there.

I learnt that when I had neurosurgery just over 2 years ago. My older brother (Neil) refused to leave Sydney until I was out of ICU (which was 5 days) even though he couldn't really afford to take time off work. Ian, being the softy he is, gave me a keyring as soon they saw me after surgery which declared me the 'World's Most Loved Sister' which read:

You are spirited and lively. There is never a dull moment when you are around. You motivate me when I am down and share in my successes. I am so proud to have a sister like you and want you to know how much you mean to me.

It's cheesy I know, but for those of you who know Ian will know just how true those words are in our relationship and how proud I am of all he has accomplished. Ian has such a good heart and is so kind, started crying when he read it to me and even now I'm tearing up writing this.

I remember a time at a school swimming carnival when Ian was swimming a backstroke race (he was in the lane closest to the side) and I saw Neil walking alongside the pool cheering and yelling encouragements and I immediately jumped up to join him.

Neil, for all his gruffness and crankiness, will be the one who comes down early on a Saturday morning from Newcastle to help me move house (despite owning 2 pizza stores which get very busy on Saturdays) and will also drive down to fix my computer for me. He does it with much grumbling but the thing is he does it for me and smiles when I give him a big hug.

I have learnt valuable qualities from my parents. The few that spring to mind are generosity, having good humour, a love of books, the joy in dancing in the kitchen and loyalty. My parents also sowed the seed in me for my becoming and growth as a Christian. I don't think my parents were very strong in how they taught us about God and Jesus, not having structure or traditions as such (compared with the stories I read about from Nicole and Rachel about their families, the girls on girltalk, and also what I see/read from other friends such as Cathy & Steve, Tim & Susan and so on and what they are doing in their family now) but I've thought that could be partly because they didn't have that modelled to them when they were growing up (as my grandparents weren't Christian). I know that a lot of stuff I have learnt about families I would not have thought about or seen the importance of if I haven't seen it or read about it from someone else. I hope this makes sense. However, I know my parents are Christians who understand they are sinners and are in need of a saviour who is Jesus and I have always been encouraged to pray and I know that I am prayed for. I have also learnt what not to do from observing my parents but I have come to realise that is a good thing because my Mum will tell me she did things differently to her parents and that's okay.

I have rambled on here more than I meant to but basically what I was trying to say was my family can be frustrating, annoying and irritating but gosh I love them to bits!