Thursday, August 1, 2013

The ones who love you

Why is it that the people who are supposed to love you the most are often the people who hurt you deepest?  Our family is often times the group of people that take you for granted as an individual.  I find myself anxious when I know time with my family is approaching.  For a group that is supposed to support you, lift you up, encourage you, I find myself feeling excluded, unimportant, and discouraged most of the time.

I don't ever want my children to feel that way about their family.  I want them each to know how much I cherish them.  I want them to know that I already find their uniqueness and individuality wonderfully exciting.  And I want them to encourage each other in their endeavors.  I want them to be kind to each other and curious about the others passions and interests.  I want to cultivate a sense of belonging, inclusion, and security so they can strive to be great at whatever they want to be.

The question for me is, how do I cultivate that environment for my family, especially when I don't feel it myself?