This article is part of our new series on the family. In this series, our counselors are examining various difficulties of family life and sharing ways to pursue healthier family dynamics.
A viral video in recent years captured the spontaneous tears of a teenage boy receiving a beautifully decorated birthday cake. Because this boy was adopted from Sierra Leone in Africa, birthdays had not previously been special occasions.
The power of this video was the heartfelt gratitude for what the moment represented: acceptance, love, and remembrance from family.
The hard reality is that many families don’t offer this same acceptance, love, and remembrance. They don’t take the time to remember each other on special days or even regular days.
As a counselor, I hear stories of heartache often, especially after major holidays. They can offer both greater time with family and disappointment.
For some, their family is the source of their deepest hurts. Others have the blessing of coming home to a family that is a great source of comfort and security.
On Thanksgiving, it feels spiritually healthy to be thankful, but this is not a blessing to be taken for granted. We must also remember that keeping a unified
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