What I am, what you are, what we are, is because of the love and care given to us by our parents as well as those in our family unit. Unfortunately, there are others that are what they are today because of the lack of love and care refused them by their family. Explanations are in order.

What constitutes a family? J.C. Penney — the hallmark of retail stores and one whom I will always think of as the best that ever lived — referred to his employees as his family. Those of us who worked for him really believed it because it was so. I remember being told, "Don't ever let Mr. Penney catch you smoking or not have the store as clean as a pin!"

One day, we came to work and found an old man sweeping the entry of our store. We figured, "Why not?" After all, no harm done, and it would save our having to do it. Our manager, Tom Cambel, was at the back of the store and hollered at us, "Take that broom away from that man and get to work!"

The old guy held up his hand, turned towards Mr. Cambel and said, "Tom, if I can do this, so can you!"

The old man was none other than J.C. Penney.

Tom Cambel was never the same.

Some will say that their family is that intimate group of people who makes them feel at home, where there are people who love them just as they are. That's one definition. Sociologists define the basic family unit as married parents living together with their children who are related to them by blood or adoption. We can also add the extended family, and if we stretch it a bit, we could include our pets in this bunch. Other definitions are much broader and some a whole lot narrower.

Psychologically sound families have such close ties — even though they may not think about it — that when a son or daughter goes to college, gets married, leaves for a new home, the family suffers. Even greater trauma is experienced when one of the family members dies. It takes a very, very long time to adjust to the loss. By the way, if someone tells you to get a move on or don't stop living and so forth, just nod knowingly. but take all the time you need to grieve. It may take years or even a lifetime to say goodbye. It's okay. It's normal and it's right.

Psychologically unsound families will sometimes use one of the family members as the "scapegoat." By that, I mean one of the members will be blamed for the bad luck or problems of the family. The scapegoat can be mother, father, sister or brother. If the scapegoat gets tired of taking all the blame and leaves, someone else in the family will take the role.

It is the family which molds the child who will be the future citizen of tomorrow. When you meet a loving, responsible, caring adult, you can be sure that as a child, they lived in a loving, responsible and caring home environment. There are, of course, exceptions. I can't explain it, but I can accept it.

The family is the place of refuge from the world. People can survive just about anything the world throws in their direction as long as the family cares. It is my thesis in life that the family may be the most important institution. If it fails, the world as we know it may also fail. 

We might just lose a lot of sleep over the stock market, politics — and you may add your own enemies — and get angry over a lot of things, but if we allow the family to slip through the cracks, all the rest won't add up to a hill of beans.

Let's make this week, this month, this year a very special time. Let's do everything in our power to keep the family solid, supportive and wonderful!"

I am so glad you are a part of the family!

Thanks, God!