Date: August 20, 2012
Writer’s Name: Charlotte Marshall Templeman
Title: The Love of Family
One of the most beautiful creations made by God was the family. Family is an extension of who we are as individuals. When you think of the word family often times you get a feeling of warmth, love and happiness. It is our family who we can many times go to for support, a listening ear, a laugh or two or a peace of mind. When families gather together for a good time we are able to see the root of who we are and where we come from. If a family is blessed to have older grandparents, we are also given the knowledge and history to our beginning. It is from those roots that we understand the family tree and what truly makes us family.
Although there are many families who are united by love and blood, there are some that are not. In order to have unified families there are several ingredients that have to go into making that happen. They are faith, prayer, love, respect, communication, trust and support. These simple ingredients can mean the difference between a family that stands together and one that falls apart.
During slavery times, a huge strain was placed on the African American family. Women watched their husbands and children were sold to the highest bid, while husbands watched their wives being taken advantage of by the slave owners. Children were ripped from the arms of their parents, sold and never to be seen again. These were horrific times but through those atrocities the family remained intact. They were able to do so because of their faith. Faith was important because it allowed them to believe that a higher being was in control and could change their situation or get them through. Faith has always been the backbone of the family strength and it still is.
Prayer is another important ingredient because it goes hand in hand with faith. The ability to pray together as a family brings union. A family that prays together not only stays together, but they work together and are bonded by their spiritual belief. Faith and prayer are what get families through the darkest hours they may be experiencing. It unites them as one, thus sealing the family bond.
Love is just as important to the family unit. Love brings about understanding, patience and humility. A family without love is like a plant without water; it cannot grow.
Respect is vital to a unified family because it shows each family member that your differences, opinions and who you are are accepted without conditions.
Communication is pivotal to a strong family because it shows everyone has a voice. It also is the vessel to knowing what is going on with everyone, whether it is big or small. Effective communication is the key to any positive relationship.
Trust shows that one can believe in you and what you say or do because of your actions. It is essential to a family. The ability to trust your family is key to a solid foundation as well. Without trust the family can become stagnant. Supporting each other’s endeavors, ideas and dreams is what makes a family strong and unified. Knowing that your family is rooting for you the loudest in your cheering section can be the difference of how far you excel in life. It shows how much you are loved.
A family who exemplifies the ingredients stated above is a family that is solid. There will be obstacles, disagreements and arguments but if you are able to come together and discuss the differences, your relationship as a family will always be strong. The strength of the African American family has always been tested. We’ve been affected by slavery, but we overcame. We were affected by segregation, but we overcame. We were affected by Jim Crow laws, the civil rights movement and prejudice but we have always overcome. We have endured hardships but as a unit we were able to fight them. A family united is hard to break and a family that is hard to break will always stand tall.
Writer’s Name: Charlotte Marshall Templeman
Title: The Love of Family
One of the most beautiful creations made by God was the family. Family is an extension of who we are as individuals. When you think of the word family often times you get a feeling of warmth, love and happiness. It is our family who we can many times go to for support, a listening ear, a laugh or two or a peace of mind. When families gather together for a good time we are able to see the root of who we are and where we come from. If a family is blessed to have older grandparents, we are also given the knowledge and history to our beginning. It is from those roots that we understand the family tree and what truly makes us family.
Although there are many families who are united by love and blood, there are some that are not. In order to have unified families there are several ingredients that have to go into making that happen. They are faith, prayer, love, respect, communication, trust and support. These simple ingredients can mean the difference between a family that stands together and one that falls apart.
During slavery times, a huge strain was placed on the African American family. Women watched their husbands and children were sold to the highest bid, while husbands watched their wives being taken advantage of by the slave owners. Children were ripped from the arms of their parents, sold and never to be seen again. These were horrific times but through those atrocities the family remained intact. They were able to do so because of their faith. Faith was important because it allowed them to believe that a higher being was in control and could change their situation or get them through. Faith has always been the backbone of the family strength and it still is.
Prayer is another important ingredient because it goes hand in hand with faith. The ability to pray together as a family brings union. A family that prays together not only stays together, but they work together and are bonded by their spiritual belief. Faith and prayer are what get families through the darkest hours they may be experiencing. It unites them as one, thus sealing the family bond.
Love is just as important to the family unit. Love brings about understanding, patience and humility. A family without love is like a plant without water; it cannot grow.
Respect is vital to a unified family because it shows each family member that your differences, opinions and who you are are accepted without conditions.
Communication is pivotal to a strong family because it shows everyone has a voice. It also is the vessel to knowing what is going on with everyone, whether it is big or small. Effective communication is the key to any positive relationship.
Trust shows that one can believe in you and what you say or do because of your actions. It is essential to a family. The ability to trust your family is key to a solid foundation as well. Without trust the family can become stagnant. Supporting each other’s endeavors, ideas and dreams is what makes a family strong and unified. Knowing that your family is rooting for you the loudest in your cheering section can be the difference of how far you excel in life. It shows how much you are loved.
A family who exemplifies the ingredients stated above is a family that is solid. There will be obstacles, disagreements and arguments but if you are able to come together and discuss the differences, your relationship as a family will always be strong. The strength of the African American family has always been tested. We’ve been affected by slavery, but we overcame. We were affected by segregation, but we overcame. We were affected by Jim Crow laws, the civil rights movement and prejudice but we have always overcome. We have endured hardships but as a unit we were able to fight them. A family united is hard to break and a family that is hard to break will always stand tall.
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