My Family Culture

What I would like to bring with me to my journey of my new country would be my grandfather’s bible that he used during his years of a ministry; a portrait of my great-grandmother Elizabeth dressed from head to toe in her Indian attire; lastly but certainly not least, my photograph album that house photographs of my immediate family members; other kinfolks; close friends; special places and events, and past and present family pets (Harris, 2008, p. 10).

If I could only keep one thing it would have to be my grandfather’s bible. The main reason for keeping the bible would be because both my grandfather and my grandmother recorded important information concerning our origins, special events such as marriages; births; baptisms, and deaths.

The bible provides very important information concerning  my grandparents;  parents; children ; grandchildren; past and present kinfolks, and myself.  I would explain to others the bible provides insight and closeness to whom I believe is my creator and savior. I would explain to others that I believe the contents of the bible provides me with daily guidance for a long and fruitful life.

I would also explain that the bible houses important documentation by family members concerning important and special events as well as very important information concerning family origin. I would explain the importance of my holding on to the bible, how the bible shall bring me daily comfort, as well as keeping my family origins alive.

The insight that I have is that although it is important for me to have visual keepsakes (items), it is more important for me to keep our memories alive by documentation and or story telling for these things are not easily destroyed or left behind, “for each family is unique…” (Garris-Christian, 2006, p. 9).   

 

Reference

Garris- Christian, L. (2006). Understanding families:

         applying family systems: Theory to early

        childhood practice. 61(1) ;1-9.  YC Young Children.

        ProQuest Central

Harris, S. R., (2008).  What is family diversity?  

        Objective and interpretive approaches: Journal of

       Family Issues. 28(1407). “originally published

       online 21 May 2008.”

       DOI: 10.1177/0192513X08318841. “The online version

       of this article can be found at:

      http://jfi.sagepub.com/content/29/11/1407.”