Family - The Bond that Links Us All
Our families are very important in the lives of each of us. After all, family is like links in a single chain and all chains are inextricably linked. Each chain can be strong and impervious to any impact or damage, or it can be fragile, and then others can fill the missing links with their support and love. Never underestimate the role of each family in society. Our traditions and habits, our skills, and everything our family gives us—we fill our lives and the lives of those around us with them.
We are all so different, and yet we have a stable family structure, where each of us has a mother, father, grandparents. Yesterday, while walking along a snowy trail, I saw a woman of advanced age slowly moving with the help of walking poles. I remembered my grandfather and how he loved his only walking poles. My grandfather, Stepan, lived in a large village and loved his home very much. He had his own garden, with apple trees, pear trees, plum trees, and a large mulberry tree. When my sisters, brother, and I were children, we visited our grandparents every year during school holidays. We walked in the garden, picked fallen ripe fruit, and then my grandmother made delicious fruit compote.
I remember the care and warmth my grandparents gave us. Near their house, in the yard, there was a whole world for open to us in the form of numerous pets and birds. And a paradise of flowers that my grandmother planted. Once, we planted cherry tree saplings together, and then I joyfully watched as they grew into large trees and bore fruit.
I also remember how my grandmother taught me to make pierogi. These were pierogi with a sweet filling of poppy seeds and cherries. And to this day, they are one of my favourite desserts. My grandmother’s name was Euphrosyne. She was very kind and very hard-working. My grandparents had a large farm, and we could watch a calf being born and a cow giving milk.
It all felt so natural, and it was the best world for us children, where we were safe and loved. During school holidays, my two cousins, Ludmilla and Vita, and my cousin Slava, were with me. A year ago, my cousin died in the war, and my childhood memories now carry the bitter taste of loss. Our family chain has become less strong, but the people who leave us remain in our memories and hearts for a lifetime. This is what happened with my grand-parents. They are gone, but their memories remain, like the cherries my grandmother and I grew.
My grandparents lived a long life. I once wondered what the secret of their resilience was. They endured a lot, led an ordinary life, ate simple, modest food, my grandfather smoked his own tobacco, and they worked hard physically. But we also maintained a sleep schedule, going to bed early and waking up early. My grandparents didn’t ad-just their clocks for daylight saving time; it wasn’t necessary for their lifestyle.
My grandmother loved naps, and my grandfather would sometimes pull out his old button accordion and sing my favourite songs. Perhaps that was the secret to their health and longevity. I also remember how I loved sitting on a bench with my grandfather and looking at the clouds, their beauty and playful shapes. I still love this activity and often photograph the cloudy sky above me, and I’m glad that here at Blairmore it’s peaceful and very beautiful.
Family isn’t a perfect picture from the internet; it’s like a small state with its own weekdays and holidays, joys and sorrows, rules and regulations. Family is like a single living organism. It saddens me when a family has problems with children, when they get sick or fall into the wrong path of alcohol and drugs. My friends’ family faced this very problem. It’s unbearable pain for the mother and father, but despite everything, they believe their children will over-come their bad habits, and they fear and pray for it every day. In today’s world, we face new challenges, and not everyone has the opportunity to be close to their family or devote enough time to them. But the most important thing is to maintain connection and support, and to offer warm words and positive emotions.
My former neighbours and good friends, Zander and Maricar, welcomed a wonderful son, John Thomas, on December 24th. He arrived on Christmas Eve, and he’s a true miracle and a blessing from God. Maricar recently posted on Facebook, writing:
“I received a call from my dream company in Canada, but I have decided not to pursue it. Giving up my ‘always on the go’ mindset and embracing my slower pace. It’s hard, but career can wait. John Thomas’ childhood can’t. Thank you for teaching me how to slow down.”
This touching message contains so much strength, courage, and endless love. It’s an important message for reflecting on our true values and priorities. I wish this wonderful family success and health for their sweet little child with the beautiful name John Thomas.
Today, as I write these lines, all Orthodox Christians in Ukraine celebrate the great and bright holiday of Forgiveness Sunday. On this day, we ask each other for forgiveness for everything that brings grief to us and our loved ones. On this day, people should stop all quarrels, not do heavy housework, but pray and prepare for the Great A fast that will last until Easter.
Forgiveness Sunday changes its date depending on Easter, and this year it coincided with a holiday dear to me—my dad’s birthday. I want to talk about my dad forever. He’s a man of his word and deeds, very responsible and caring. Dad is a master of many things: he can fix anything in the house, and even bake a cake. We say that during our lifetime, we need to build a house, plant a tree, and raise a son. Dad accomplished all of this, only instead of a son, he raised two daughters, a grandson, and granddaughters, serving as a great example and guide for us all.
We wish our dad a peaceful sky above his head, good health, a long life, and all the very best that he could wish for. On this day, Dad will be congratulated by his family and friends, and he has many friends. I want our dad to be happy, and we, his family, are doing everything we can to make that happen.
On February 16, residents of Alberta celebrated Family Day. This It’s a wonderful holiday when family members can spend time together, enjoying each other’s company. I wish there were more holidays like this, and that the world would come to a time when nothing would threaten our safety, when all families could meet anywhere on our beautiful planet Earth.