Family Matters

I want to start out by saying that I wish to approach this topic very carefuly and respectfully. It is not my intention to offend or insult anyone, but instead to clarify my own personal opinion and belief. So, in way of discussion and clarification:

Whenever there are difficult trials or hardships in life, it has always been my nature and my belief that it is important to involve family. Many people may disagree with this, and of course I understand that in many trivial and/or private circumstances, the general rule is that you need to keep things confidential, especially concerning marital disagreements or struggles. However, I strongly feel that when couples or families face major crisis or hardships, regardless of whether it is a direct result of any human mistake or not, that involving immediate family members can be a huge source of support, advice, counsel, and encouragement. Family helps lighten the seemingly unbearable load and give faith and hope to the otherwise desperately low reservoirs of these attributes by those individuals involved. Without family, I know there have been many painful and trying times that I would not have been able to get through without their help.

I will continue further to state that this being said, I do understand the need to strengthen ourselves and to learn to rely on our strength as couples and families also. By dealing with hardships or trials as a family unit, we can realize the growth that can be achieved by building our trust and faith in one another with difficult decisions and experiences. However, this can only be accomplished when all parties involved are willing to work together and support one another in those unique circumstances. This does take patience, humility, love, faith and trust, and I do admit and acknowledge that I myself can be weak and lacking in any and all of these areas at certain times. Again, I do not wish to offend anyone with these statements, but my sincere intent is to clarify my understanding of this issue. I will strive to be more sensitive to the family matters that should and should not be discussed, and I hope that my own family members will respectfully refrain from discussing certain matters with me. Please, if you don't wish to be involved, please inform me that you do not think it is your place or that you do not wish to discuss those matters with me. Thank you for your understanding. Simply stated, I believe that in regard to important family matters, family matters.