Family Gathering
A personal post
Last week our scattered family (children and spouses, and grandchildren + significant others) gathered in Destin, FL for a week at the beach. This is the 25th year that our family has come together, 24 of them over the week of July 4th. Amazingly over the 25 years, we had 100% attendance. For at least part of the week, all of us were together under the same roof.
Sometimes leadership just happens. How it all happened is an example of a leadership concept which states:
For leadership to happen, you need a situation that needs addressing, a group of people that desire to see a change, and a person prepared and called to bring them together for the common good.
In 2000, after 19 years living on the same street, our family scattered to four places for the summer. On a whim, I suggested we gather at a Microtel in OKC for Memorial weekend. We did and had a wonderful time just hanging out together.
Two years later we moved from Houston to Oregon. Now we were even more scattered. We no longer had a home base for our family. Keeping us together was on my mind. Our Christmas gift to our children that year was an all expense paid weekend together in Galveston over the July 4th weekend.
The weekend was so well received that we repeated it the following year. For the next 24 years we would rent a house some place and gather over July 4th. Over time, the weekend stretched to a full week with the location changing each year. Everyone in the same house, cooking family favorites, and many years someone new added to the family. (Actually whomever was pregnant determined the location of our gathering.)
Our family of five is now a family of 18 and still growing. It is the only time of the year our entire family is together. Without request, everyone protects the week on their schedules.
The tradition/event is an example of what needs to be in place for leadership to happen.
The situation that needed addressing was our family was scattered and in danger of not staying connected.
Our children, who were close in age and relationship, wanted to stay connected.
As parents, we acted to keep the family connected for the common good of the family.
I write this with a full tank and beyond grateful to the Lord for his provision to make it happen.
I hope that your July 4th was as enjoyable as ours.
Think about it
What traditions do you have that connects your family? Share them in the “Leave a comment” button below.
Where have you experienced a situation that needed addressing, a group wanting to see a change, and someone providing leadership to make it happen?
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