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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Cousin(s) (05/22/08)
Can you imagine what it was like living in biblical times? Your family was everything. You not only lived with your parents but your parents lived close to their parents and grandparents, sister, brothers, nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and everybody else. You shared everything with each other. Family bonds were closer and each adult looked out for others children. There truly was a unity of family back in biblical times. Everybody worked not only for themselves but also for the benefit of the whole family. God was the head and everybody praised God. That is the way it should be today but times have changed.

I had so many cousins that they seem to be climbing out of the woodwork. I couldn’t go anywhere and not meet one of my cousins. I would go to the country store and there was one of my cousins. I would go to the doctors and there sat another of my cousins. No matter which way I turned, there was one of my cousins. Some might consider it a blessing or a curse. Because of the way I was raised I thought my cousins were just another part of my immediate family. I loved all my cousins. I may not like some of them, but they were family and I still loved them.

I spent many hours playing with my cousins and had so much fun just being rambunctious energetic silly kids. We did not have television let alone video games. We played outside except when it rained. We entertained ourselves with such games as red rover hide n’ seek, dodge ball, tag, baseball, and flag football and any other things we could think of to keep us out from under our parents feet. We went bike riding or just sat outside and talked. The pace of life then was slower and people were more laid back then they are today. Now that I am older, I look back over my life and truly thank God for all of my many blessings.

Today families are scattered from one end of the United States to the other. Small quiet communities with tiny post offices and a little family grocery store are just about outdated. People live in big cities or the suburbs. They rush here and there at breakneck speeds. Family gatherings are no longer daily occurrences. If you have your family in one state then you are truly blessed. Your cousins may be in another state and the only time you see them is when your family goes on vacation.

Personally, I think it is sad that families today miss all the camaraderie we shared while growing up. Families should not be as fragmented as they are today but times are changing. Families must move away to find good paying jobs. You may want to keep the family unit together but it is becoming more and more difficult with diminishing job markets.

My fervent prayer to God this day is that all people of this nation realize how important family is. Each member plays an important part and if you have strong family ties than nothing can stand against it. Having lots of cousins makes for a loving fun time for all. I thank God for cousins galore.
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Member Comments
Member
Date
Verna Cole Mitchell 
05/29/08
You presented a good case for the joys of family members living close to each other and having strong ties. I would like to have seen you tie in the first paragraph to the rest of the entry.