Unitarian Universalist Church of Palo Alto
Reflection: On Family
UUCPA Family One
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Palo Alto, CA
| SAM: | Family is working together to write the story of our hopes, and of what we decide to be. |
| JEREMY: | Childhood is snuggling up with your teddy bear, calling Mommy in to read, and curling up next to her listening to the bedtime story. |
| NANCY: | Parenting is learning not to yell at your kids so much, after your 5-year-old asks, “Mommy, why do you yell? My teacher never yells.” |
| ROBERT: | Family is sharing goals and projects — Hosting Sam’s card game parties, helping my Dad fix up a summer cabin, Sam helping me run soccer tournaments, and Jeremy inspiring us to adopt a cat. |
| JEREMY: | Childhood is setting up the chessboard, almost losing, then switching sides. You almost lose 5 times, but switch when you are getting too close. Finally you win, and beat your daddy. |
| SAM: | Family is yelling across the room to turn that dratted music down! |
| NANCY: | Family is negotiating the right to sing versus the right not to have to listen. |
| ROBERT: | Family is the joy of being ourselves together. Riding bikes home from Sam’s band concert this week — Fast, loud, and silly, high energy bike riding. A little bit of razing, like: “Hey, slow down!” and “No, I’m not waiting for you!” We appreciated each others’ high spirits. |
| SAM: | Family is putting your dignity on the line in front of a huge room of people because your parents say so, and trusting them to be right that I should. |
| ROBERT: | Having my extended family means really fun reunions every 2 years. |
| NANCY: | Having my extended family meant thinking at a family reunion, “I could do this again … in 10 years!” That was 10 years ago, and I think I’m ready. |
| SAM: | Family is arguing for half an hour about something you both agree on. |
| JEREMY: | Childhood is wrapping your arms around your brother, and having a squeezing contest. |
| ROBERT: | Being Family, |
| SAM: | We know each other’s strengths |
| JEREMY: | And vulnerabilities; |
| NANCY: | We support and protect one another, |
| ROBERT: | or sometimes hurt one another’s feelings. |
| SAM: | We feel safe, and open ourselves, |
| JEREMY: | Or not safe, and close ourselves. |
| NANCY: | We learn from each other how to be in the world |
| ROBERT: | Some things we learn are good, |
| SAM: | Some maybe not |
| JEREMY: | We feel understood, and are happy. |
| NANCY: | Or not understood, and are hurt or angry. |
| ROBERT: | We make mistakes; |
| SAM: | Sometimes we get mad, and brood; |
| JEREMY: | Sometimes we forgive, and move on. |
| NANCY: | We try to change one another, |
| ROBERT: | Or, once in awhile, even ourselves. |
| SAM: | Occasionally we succeed |
| JEREMY: | We keep trying, |
| NANCY: | or we give up. |
| ROBERT: | But not quite, |
| SAM: | We accept, |
| JEREMY: | or at least tolerate. |
| NANCY: | And we go on, |
| ROBERT: | Being family. |
Sermon: Words about Families (part 2) by Rev. Kurt Kuhwald
Unitarian Universalist Church of Palo Alto,
505 East Charleston Road, Palo Alto, CA 94306
Transforming Ourselves, Each Other and the World
650-494-0541 (Office), 650-494-8190 (FAX), email: uucpa@uucpa.org
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Last modified Friday, 07-Aug-2009 20:17:37 PDT
