This week, I attended a cousin’s funeral. While it was a sweet time of remembrance, and seeing other cousins, this occasion was also a sobering reminder of the brevity of life.
As an only child, my cousins have always been important to me. I am blessed to have cousins by the dozens, literally. I share a closeness akin to sibling relationships with many of my cousins.
Following are reflections on the gift of cousins:
History
Our family history is rich with faith, love, and togetherness. This heritage goes back generations, on both sides of my family.
Unlike some families today, our parents loved their siblings deeply and helped each other, and each other’s children, into adulthood. The concept of helpfulness was modeled for us continually.
The connection we share through the blessing of a close-knit family is unique and special. That family connection is a cherished gift.
Our heritage and history bind us. The memories we share are treasured, growing sweeter with each passing year.
Togetherness
Part of what held our family together over time was the priority of gathering. Holidays were a time of celebration, joy, music, food, laughter, and storytelling. Many of my childhood memories include cousins and the fun we had together. But also, my parents’ generation did things together beyond holidays. They were siblings, but also friends.
Even now, the anticipation of seeing cousins, their children, and grandchildren stirs a deep sense of joy.
Continued Connection and Love
With the homegoing of our parents’ generation, we see each other less often. The sheer size of my generation, and the next, and next, makes finding a time and place to gather difficult. Yet, we manage to stay in touch in other ways.
Somehow, I became the hub for information disbursement, and I am okay with that. I have the number of at least one person in each family, and trust that person to pass news on to their family members. That connection ensures we don’t drift too far apart despite varied locations and stages of life.
One of the greatest blessings of my continued connection to cousins is prayer support. When any of us are in a hard season of life, we can count on cousins to support with prayer and the kind of encouragement that sustains forward motion. The love we share hasn’t diminished with the years. Instead, our kinship grows more dear.
I am grateful our parents and grandparents set an example of faith, love, and connection that endures despite time and geographic distance. The gift of family, of cousins, is a precious blessing.
“Friends love through all kinds of weather, and families stick together in all kinds of trouble” (Proverbs 17:17 MSG).
©CandyArrington
Candy Arrington is an award-winning writer, blogger, and speaker. She often writes on tough topics with a focus on moving through, and beyond, difficult life circumstances. Candy has written hundreds of articles, stories, and devotions published by numerous outlets including: Inspiration.org, Arisedaily.com, CBN.com, Healthgrades.com, Care.com, Focus on the Family, NextAvenue.org, CountryLiving.com, and Writer’s Digest. Candy’s books include Life on Pause: Learning to Wait Well (Bold Vision Books), When Your Aging Parent Needs Care (Harvest House), and AFTERSHOCK: Help, Hope, and Healing in the Wake of Suicide (B&H Publishing Group).
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