Family Jewels and Family Fools

Do We Have the Right?

Ten years ago today, an announcement at someones family reunion changed many people's ideas about family and its importance. The world stood still when the family minster announced that his beloved nephew and assistant pastor was his son. By the time they cleared the lawn of fallen wives, mothers and belligerent grandparent, the sun sank low behind the church.

Death Bed Confessions

Sadly, that story is not new, as almost daily children come into the world unaware of their blood relatives and more than likely will never know them. A child is entitled to share in the richness of family, not because of some motherly or fatherly whim, rather, simply because they are family. How many children missed out on a better life because they had no way way to identify their people and their people had no way to identify them. Viewing the end of life, many choose to "come clean" about what they know and "spill the beans." Too often, that is not the case.

Do You Know Who You're Talking To?

Each day, you walk past someone unknowingly related to you. You don't know it and neither do they. They been hidden away as someones dirty laundry, never knowing that Aunt Liz isn't their aunt, but a half-sister. They find out when they come down with diseases that only hit certain ethnic groups or start comparing family trees with their friends. It makes no difference. The point is, there are millions of children out there deserving of a better life and could obtain if they knew about their family and their family knew about them.

Doing the Right Thing

It is a selfish and vindictive person that gives away all right to a child, to pretend they never existed knowing full well family blood still calls whether it knows or not. Family blood runs deeps and true. Give others a chance to know their kin. Personal embarrassment or shame is not a consideration because like those living in familial exile--they are still family.

What Can You Do?

Unfortunately, there is not much you can do, especially if you don't know. However, adoption of children is a good way to keep them in the family. Just caring for them when you can--helps. By keeping the family tree alive and healthy, the entire family thrives.

O