Week 26

Family

Mom & Nana sending me off 

  This week I would like to share with you the lessons I have learned regarding the value of Family.

   Saturday I headed down south to Florida to aid my grandparents. My grandfather had a spill and fractured his hip. My mother, the amazing woman she is, bought me tickets to come the same time as she was coming. I left Delaware around  2pm and officially arrived at my destination at 7pm. I was greeted by the smiling face of my grandmother, whom I call Nana, and we drove to the rehab center where my grandfather was staying. 

  
        The rehab center, known as "The Club", looked more like a four star hotel than a place for elderly patients. The walls were all brick and the outside area had a mini water fall complete with a statue of a young women with her hand directed towards the sunny sky. 
   
     In my grandfather's room, the tv lulled in the background, the hall sounded with a constant beeping to alert the nurses of other patients in need, & the shuffling of nurses preparing medications was all part of the environment. This environment in and of itself was overwhelming to me, but the most intense part was gazing upon a man that has embodied strength throughout my life sitting vulnerably in a wheelchair. 
   
      Vulnerability is something no human can avoid in one's life. From the moment we are greeted by the world to our last breath we are vulnerable. Babies and the elderly just so happen to be in a more constant state of vulnerability than those of us that are in the state of self-sufficiency. We are all  born into the world exposed, naked, and defenseless. I do not remember my first year of life, nor my second for that matter, but I do know that without my family I would not have made it to this day. 
   
       Strength & Safety, words that describe the opposite of vulnerability. We all strive to feel content with ourselves and our community, but it is not an easy task. As mortal beings we all know that hanging over our heads is the fact that our lives will come to an end, and we too will be vulnerable to our fates. 

But, how does all this relate to family? 
As a fellow member of a very strong Italian family, I can attest for the fact that the love I have received provides the strength & security I need to find peace within myself. Families are the foundation of society because they provide the love that is needed to sustain humanity. Without this unconditional love  we will self destruct. Ultimately, we need one another for we are not autonomous beings. Unconditional love is the glue that keeps families together, and when families stay together the society will follow their lead. 

   If you are wondering what the heck this has to do with being 26 weeks pregnant, let me tell you. This last week has taught me that as I enter the last trimester I am not just some girl who is not working a corporate position, but I am something much greater than a title, I am bearing the fruits of society with the graces of unconditional love. I am fulfilling what I feel to be my call from God, and I think it is about time people start speaking up about the true importance of family. We are all called to be apart of a family, whether it be blood related or not we must all take a step back and realize that we need to support The Family Unit above else with unconditional love!