More Than Blood

I have a large family, lots of nieces and nephews and cousins, aunts and uncles, and more.  The catch?  A lot of my "family" is not biologically related to me.  A good portion of the family is "adopted" (not legally, of course).  It doesn't stop me from referring to them as sisters, brothers, nieces or nephews because I believe that family is about more than blood.  In fact, I heard a great quote the other day that summed it up for me....

"Family isn't about sharing the same genetics, That's being related, Family is when you love someone to death, and You would do anything for them, You trust them, Take care of them, And in Return they do the same. Its the type of bond you hold together." -Tanya Bianco

The only word I'd add to this is "just."  Family isn't JUST about sharing the same genetics.  I don't want to completely write off blood relationships because, for a lot of people, blood relationships make the difference.  There is a common tie that binds for a lot of families and it might just be that their common bloodline unites them.  I can't speak for every family in this instance; I can only speak from my own experience.  That's where the disagreement with the statement ends for me, though.

I do believe that loving someone, taking care of them, and trusting them are some of the most important parts of being a family.  Family is NOT about convenience.  It's about loving someone in the happiest of times and in the times when they're facing the most adversity.  It's about being there for the giggles but also for the tears.  It's about being there whether you live down the street or across the ocean.  "Mom", "Dad," "Sister," "Brother"....they're not just terms to throw around for me.  When I call someone my sister, it's not just a term of biology; it's a term of endearment and honor.  It means that I love them with all of my heart and I'd do anything I could to help them whenever, whatever.  It means that if they hurt my feelings, I'm not just going to write them off; I'm going to do my best to resolve the issue.

Let's face it: sometimes families, biological and otherwise, get into situations where the anger, frustration, sadness and mistrust just can't be resolved.  They barely talk or might stop talking altogether and, in some cases, they might even bad-talk to other people about each other.  Some families go on for generations with a war, of sorts, waged between siblings and their families.  Sometimes this is a two-sided argument and sometimes it's just the anger and wrath of one person contributing to the entire situation.  The fact is that none of that really matters when it comes down to it.  Sometimes you just have to accept situations as they are, know that you don't have control over anyone else but yourself, let go of the past (for your own health and well-being) and move on with the people that love you and understand you for who you are. 

Family is MORE than just a blood relationship; it's loving someone as they are.