My Family Culture

For this week, we were asked to consider what three items we would take with us if my family was forced to relocate to a foreign country. I found this task very challenging because it made me stop and think about what I most valued with my family. The first item that I have chosen was rather easy to decide upon and that is my Bible. My family is Christian and I read my Bible daily for spiritual guidance and wisdom. We would turn to the scripture in order to find comfort and understanding in being relocated to a new home. My family would also be able to use the Bible and our faith in order to help teach our new neighbors about our religious beliefs and practices. The next item that we would bring would be our wedding rings. My husband and I made a commitment to each other five years ago and the rings serve as a symbol of our love and commitment to one another. Also, if need be, due to their material value, we would sell the rings in order to obtain local currency to purchase anything that we would need in order to survive that was not already provided for us. The third item that we would bring would be our daughters' "lovies". My oldest daughter has a lamb that she takes everywhere with her and it means the world to her. We lost it once before at the grocery store and it was devastating for her and the rest of our family. She was so heartbroken that she had lost her best friend. Miraculously, her lamb was found at the same grocery store almost a week later and a clerk called us to tell us that it had been found. The look on my daughter's face when she saw her lamb again was priceless. I want my daughters to have a piece of home to bring with them so that the change is not too dramatic. If they can take one "lovey" with them, it would help bring them comfort in all of the turmoil.

If once we arrived at the new destination and we were told that we could continue our journey with only one item, it would be very difficult for me to choose. Each of the items listed is valuable to our family in its own unique way. If I was forced to choose, I would allow my daughters to keep their "lovies". Their happiness is more important to me than anything else. I can continue to pray and ask God for guidance. I also trust that He would provide for all of our needs and the rings are simply symbols, despite their monetary value. My daughters' "lovies" are irreplaceable, even if an exact same replica is found. I want them to be able to have at least one aspect of consistency in their lives and these items would allow them to have that.

This assignment has allowed me to reflect on what matters most to me and my family. My family means the world to me and I would do absolutely anything for them. I would sacrifice anything of mine if it meant that my family would be better off by it. I love my girls so much and I only want to see them happy. This does not mean that they receive everything that they ask for. However, I do my best to ensure that all of their needs are taken care of. For example, after I had my second daughter, I decided to stay home from work because I wanted to be at home with my daughters. After a few months, I realized that financially it was not the best decision and I returned back to work. It is my responsibility to make sure that my children are healthy and safe and by staying home, I could not ensure that because we did not have enough money to pay for all of the necessities. Now, my income will not only assist in making sure their needs are met, but I can also address some of their wants, which makes me feel pretty good too.