The Other Side Of The Camera

"There is nothing quite like the connection you share with siblings. Good times with these three over the weekend... remembering, laughing, making memories. I like us."

I spent the weekend with three of my siblings and shared those pictures and words on social media this morning. I wasn't going to but then I did anyway. 

They were true. 

We had a wonderful weekend. We talked and relaxed and laughed until we nearly cried. We did nothing and we did some sightseeing and we just enjoyed spending time with people who share our DNA and sense of humor. We ate and lounged and stayed up late and relished shedding all responsibilities. 

It is incredibly true that there is something about siblings that you will never quite find with somebody else. I am so very blessed to have a family who loves and cares about each other. 

But. 

It's also true that siblings and family are not all roses and sunshine. I've seen plenty of posts on social media just like the one I posted this morning that have left me feeling like my family must be lacking because, let's face it, there are hard things about family too. 

Sometimes the connection with siblings is painful. Sometimes there are things we don't agree with; things we wish we could change or fix. Sometimes we hurt each other or feel misunderstood. My family has a hard time getting things planned and sometimes the hassle feels like more drama than it's worth. 

My siblings and I are scattered farther apart geographically than we used to be. Since mom is gone, sometimes it's felt like we've drifted apart in other ways too. There have been times when it felt like the glue that held our family together was removed with her death and we struggled to hold together what we used to have. 

I love my family dearly. We share a connection and a heritage that I would never want to trade with anyone. Weekends like this past one make me deeply grateful for the way I was raised and the siblings God chose for me to share life with. 

But. 

I don't like to portray something that isn't the whole truth. It's too easy to show only the pretty side of the room and not turn the camera around and share the messy side as well. We hurt other people when we do that, leaving them feeling lacking and less than and not quite good enough. In the long run though, we hurt ourselves more than anyone.

And so, I wasn't going to post anything at all this morning, for that very reason. And then I did because, you know, that's just what you do. But then I felt compelled to turn the camera around and show the other side.....