This one left me a bittersweet taste. When I heard the question, I immediately said, "certainly, my family relationships are more lasting than my friendships" (not necessarily that they're more important). But as I thought about it more during the homily, I realized that during the times in my life when I've been most intentional and mindful about my growth (i.e., high school, college, beyond), I often put family off to the side.
During high school, I'd be so careful to always be busy, either with my friends, my schoolwork, or athletics, that my family would get the tired shell of me--for dinner during the week, late at night on the weekends. Then during college, I was 300 miles away from my family.
The point that came to me: my friends have been the ones who have seen most of the ups and downs of my life, as they've happened.
I realize how profound of an influence my family had on me before high school, and certainly also throughout and after graduation in other ways. I've given precedent to friendships--some of which hardly exist anymore, if at all--to talk through things in ways that my family doesn't know about.
I suppose part of this dichotomy is natural, but realizing its existence left me a bit uneasy.
This one left me a bittersweet taste. When I heard the question, I immediately said, "certainly, my family relationships are more lasting than my friendships" (not necessarily that they're more important). But as I thought about it more during the homily, I realized that during the times in my life when I've been most intentional and mindful about my growth (i.e., high school, college, beyond), I often put family off to the side.
ReplyDeleteDuring high school, I'd be so careful to always be busy, either with my friends, my schoolwork, or athletics, that my family would get the tired shell of me--for dinner during the week, late at night on the weekends. Then during college, I was 300 miles away from my family.
The point that came to me: my friends have been the ones who have seen most of the ups and downs of my life, as they've happened.
I realize how profound of an influence my family had on me before high school, and certainly also throughout and after graduation in other ways. I've given precedent to friendships--some of which hardly exist anymore, if at all--to talk through things in ways that my family doesn't know about.
I suppose part of this dichotomy is natural, but realizing its existence left me a bit uneasy.