Coming from a large, close family is annoying. They’re times when you feel overshadowed and lost in the crowd and times when you feel so overprotected, you think you’ll go crazy. It’s easy to argue with one set of parents but you can’t argue with seven sets of pseudo-parents who are only looking out for your well-being. Yet, recently when someone in my family fell seriously ill, my entire perspective changed. I realized how amazingly lucky I was to come from a close-knit family.
For most of my life I lived in a nuclear family (two parents, two siblings), returning home to my large family only for brief holidays. To then return, for good, to such a large family is a stretch at first. I felt surrounded on all sides in both a comforting yet frustrating way. Like a security blanket that’s both warm and smothering. But when my uncle fell ill, the way my family banded together and rallied, it tipped the scales into comforting. I realized I was blessed to have such a family.
My family, like all others, is constantly fighting and squabbling. But when they’re needed the most, they’re there, supporting each other and taking care of each other, all grudges aside. No matter the curves thrown to them, they’re in this together. I know how lucky I am to have that because I know that most people don’t. I know they would put aside all fights, squabbles and grudges to support me and be there for me if I was ever in trouble. That’s what I’m grateful for the most, to know that Im incredibly loved and protected.
If I’m ever seriously ill, I know without a shadow of doubt that my family would be there for me, praying for me. They would be angels storming Heaven for me.