“Blood is thicker than water, ” is the old saying that tells us that blood relationships are the most important.   I grew up in a tight knit family of four, and we never had friends over on Thanksgiving or Christmas.  It was never a thought to even consider.  I always thought people who had non-relative over on holiday’s were a little…odd.

I’ve seen “blood relatives” destroy each other with arguments that turned into lifelong estrangements.  Some even suffered emotional and sexual abuse at the hands of “family.”  My mother-in-law, who I desperately miss, was a person who believed in family almost to a fault.  No matter how awful one treated the other, they were family and that came first.

Why do we have that notion of “blood is thicker than water” seared into our souls?

I don’t believe blood is thicker than water.  I have learned that the relationships you develop, nurture and pour your heart into are as important, if not more important, than those who are “related” to you.

Earlier this month I traveled to Missouri for a speaking engagement.  One of my former colleagues, Jay,  brought me out to speak to his nurses and I was able to visit several former colleagues.  We had all worked for the same company over the past several years.

All of us have now moved on to different companies and our career paths have changed, but being with these wonderful people brought joy into my heart and soul.   Jay was one of the first, almost fourteen years ago, who believed in my ability to motivate, encourage and speak to audiences.  He helped me discover my passion for public speaking.  Vicki is another person who Jay and I worked with in the early days of “the company.”  We watched our children grow up, encouraged one another, and were there for each other during losses in our lives.  Spending the afternoon with her, getting a massage, drinking a cup of coffee in a bar that definitely did not specialize in coffee, and enduring the sudden snow in Kansas City was a magical day.

I bumped into another old colleague at the airport in Albuquerque and as we waited for our flight, had some absolutely wonderful conversation about faith and our roles as parents.  At lunch a few days later, he prayed an amazing blessing over Vicki and I and our time was incredibly meaningful.

And to top off the weekend, I had a meal with Vicki, Caleb and Jose (we all worked together before) and Caleb’s wife, Bobbi (Vicki’s daughter).  We laughed, ate, drank and hit our rhythm as if we had been together all of this time.  That is when I knew these amazing people were my family.

They are the ones I called when I lost my job and they helped give me direction.  I know that if I ever need help, these amazing people will be the first ones to help me figure out my next steps.

Often times we have amazing relationships with our blood related family, but when we don’t, it’s not necessarily because we “failed.”  When I have done everything possible to make those “blood” relationships work, if they don’t want to make it work, all I can do is pray and move on.  I am going to move on to the relationships that fill and nurture me and my soul.

Sometimes family finds you when you least expect it.  God loves each and every one of us, right now, in this moment.  He wants us to “love one another” as He has loved us.  And that love often leads us to the most important family we will ever have.

“I thank my God every time I remember you.”  – Philippians 3:1 (NIV)

Today I Am Thankful For:

1. warm hugs
2. adventure
3. memories
4. coffee
5. new friends