Maintaining Family Culture

Having to decide on only 3 small cherished personal items to represent (as much as possible) a person's entire culture is extremely difficult to fathom. Until face with such a problem, you can't even began to image the heartache that must be involved. As I have thought long and hard on this particular question, I have concluded that the following items would be in my possession;

• A Reference of Our Spiritual Faith and Beliefs
• A Family Photo Album (the oldest and most completed)
• A Family Narrative of the Journeys of Our Previous Generations

Spiritual faith is a major pillar in our family and has been a primary source of maintaining a strong foundation for as long as I can remember. As time passes, it would be delightful to have moments when the family can come together where the youth learn from the experiences of the elders.

A nostalgic family photo album allowing us the opportunity to put faces with names is priceless when recollecting the various encounters and hardships that previous families members have overcome to afford the next generation their chances for advancement and a better future.

The family running narrative is for a similar purpose like the photo album heirloom, to review in its entirety, the details of what brought our culture to the point where is is now. On various Christmas Eves, a review of our family journey and accomplishments were read aloud to remind everyone of their greater purpose due to the sacrifices of those before us.

All the items selected are of precious priceless value to me. If forced to give 2 out of the 3 up, I honestly would try to keep the family photo album. Special care would have to be given to ensure that the practices of our faith and reminiscing of triumphs over trials that are included in the family narrative, would continue. The family photo album gives a more tangible account of the people being spoken of. If I hadn't been challenged with this particular task, I probably wouldn't taken the time to consider something like this. However, in retrospect, there are people who experience these hard decisions on a daily bases because of where they live and other obstacles beyond their control. These are the times I truly recognize being so incredibility blessed.