Family

You occasionally hear people talking about families, love at home, etc. and how it's sometimes family members that get treated the worst. We put on a respectful act for others, but at home we let the real us go. How is it that the people we love the most are the people we treat the poorest?

As I've thought about that train of thought a little, I think it's a little disingenuous. The thought is a nice one, that we should treat our family members better. However, there are two things about the above "poor treatment" of family members that may really show the love we have for each other.

The first may be a little bit of a stretch, but I still think it's important. We are ourselves around our family. We don't put on a show for them like we do for other people. Yes, sometimes you hide things from your mom that you don't want her to know you're doing, but for the most part, it's raw, not an act.

The second is the most important. Forgiveness. No matter how many times family members have arguments, disagreements, fights, provocations, etc., we come back together and immediately forgive. We still spend time together, have fun together, and love each other.

With other relationships, if a friend causes that many problems, they may eventually be cut loose but not with family. Family is forever. Of course, there are extreme counter examples to both, but my guess is that forgiveness is the rule in families more often than it is not.