Family Culture

Laurelyn came to visit me recently.  I mentioned her in a post a while back.

We’re going on 18 years of friendship, and we can both remember the night we committed to our friendship.  We were 15, met each other, had one stellar evening of conversation and laughter (which is a lot for middle school girls), and chose each other from that day forward.

“How long have you two known each other?”
“Since we both had big hair.”

I really don’t know anyone who has pursued self awareness, sharpening personal skills, and taking away the power of fear more than Laurelyn.  She’s a force to be reckoned with.  If Laurelyn senses fear inside her, she leans into it, identifies it, and works it out by saying yes to as many scary things as she can.  Like massaging a tender muscle or a bruise, she presses into her painful places until they don’t hurt anymore.

My family delights in Laurelyn, and her visit was timely ray of sunshine.  As we peppered her with questions, she shamelessly told us about the success and victories she’s having in her new city, a new semester of grad school, exploring job options and opportunities, and learning and leaning into her gifts.

She said, “I love being with your family.  I can talk openly about the good in my life, because your family has a culture of celebration.”

I had never heard it said that way before, but it’s a perfect banner for us.  So true.

What’s important to one of us is important to all of us.
What’s good for one of us is good for all of us.

And if you’re one of us,
by blood, by law, or by love,
we celebrate you.

It’s a Culture of Celebration.