It has been noted that families are a lot like noses. Everyone has one. They often break and sometimes bleed. And everyone thinks that someone else has a better one than theirs. 

My family reunited this summer at the family cottages in Ontario. It was the first time we had all been together since my dad’s passing five years ago. Like most parents, my dad wanted the family to stay together after his death—a great idea but often complex to live out.

I was excited to see my brothers, to meet the new additions to their families, and for them to meet the latest additions to mine. 

There is a fine line between family reunions and family rebellions. There is no shortage of outside issues that families divide over – the handling of the pandemic, vaccines, social issues, sexuality, American politics, and the wars in Israel and Ukraine, among others.

In the end, everyone chose to be on their best behaviour. Maybe I was dreading a difficult conversation, but it exceeded my expectations. 

From a purely financial perspective, it was a pricey endeavour. But rather than seeing it as an expense, I view it as an investment in family relationships that I hope will pay dividends for years to come. 

Family dynamics can be complicated, but with a bit of patience and a lot of grace, we can all grow closer despite our differences. In next month’s post, ‘Navigating Tough Conversations with Family,’ I’ll explore how to handle sensitive discussions with empathy and wisdom. If you’d like to dive deeper into these topics or talk more about your family challenges. Feel free to contact me at .

David Simpson is the Community Care Pastor at Parliament Community Church in Regina, SK, located near Harbour Landing. As a church, we offer programs for all ages, from children to youth, young adults to Seniors who are part of our Heritage groups. We are also diverse in cultural backgrounds but share a desire to grow as disciples of Christ together. You can learn more about our staff and leadership at https://parliamentchurch.com/our-leadership/.