When I think about the context of the family model of today and the family model from years ago, it's almost completely different. Many will probably disagree but I believe the structure of family has been so distorted and misconstrued. There was a time when family actually meant something. There was a television show that was extremely popular in the 90's entitled "Family Matters." In this series you had a family and a neighbor name Steve Erkel, who was such a pest and brought about all sorts of confusion and discord but at the end of the day, Steve Erkel was considered family and they got through the toughest times together.

I remember hearing stories from older people about how close knit their families were and how no matter what they always stuck together. They never said that they didn't have differences but it was the mere fact that they were able to get beyond those differences. It seems to be so much harder for us to do this today. So what has happened? Why is it that family isn't as strong as it used to be?

I look at my family and I see many of the same issues that have caused most families to become divided. I believe a lot of the division and confusion comes from unspoken hurt and pain, miscommunication and the absence of the expression of true love. Sometimes we get so caught up in everyday life that we don't even think to tell someone we love them or that we are thinking about them. You'll be surprised how far an "I love you" or an "I was just thinking of you" will go. And what amazes me most is the fact that people feel family isn't important.

So what makes family important? Family is important because having family is a blessing. It's a blessing to be able to have a mother, father, sisters, brothers, cousins, aunts and uncles. Family is going to be there when no one else is. Family will support you no matter what. At the end of the day everything won't be perfect, but the role of family in all of our lives is critical whether we like it or not.

All in all what's important to understand is that issues among families need to be handled. Don't wait until someone is laid in a casket in front of a church to mend the broken pieces. Don't wait until someone is behind bars or laid up in the hospital to try to fix what was wrong. Family matters and we have to get back to the true essence of family. What happened to us supporting each other and loving each other no matter what? What happened to sticking together through thick and thin? If there's any unspoken animosity amongst yourself and family, I encourage you to be the initiator in reconciliation. I challenge you today to reach out to that family member you know you've had issues with or that family you haven't spoken to in a while. Life is too short and you don't want to live with the regrets of what you did or didn't do. Family matters.