Family thoughts on the Family Day weekend

The Maharani's Great Granddaughter with 

her Great Granddaughter

Acrylic on canvas

30 x 30 inches

Barbara Muir © 2016

It is wonderful to grow up in a warm, loving family.  When
I was younger I took my family for granted, my parents, and
our wider family.  Only as I got older did I understand the
importance of having, and being a loving family.

And as for my parents-in-law.  I knew I loved my husband
almost from the first time I saw him, which I believe was
at his sister's wedding.  We didn't actually start dating until
a few years after that.  I am an agnostic, and have been
forever, and his parents, staunch Catholics found me hard to
take.  Looking back I'm sure I was.  I was probably full of
myself, judgmental, defensive -- everything I've tried to
get over in my life.

I'm showing this picture tonight for Family Day, because a
lovely miracle happened in our family.  When my mother-in-
law, Daisy was older we bonded.  She understood that I
made her son happy, and she had always loved my children.
I learned to love her, and she learned to love me.  And that
was huge.

I will never forget the day that inspired this painting.  We
brought my granddaughter Alice to meet her great grandmother,
and Daisy was so sweet with the baby and moved to meet
her.  I am so happy that my mother-in-law got to see the
painting hanging in a show, and that she loved it.
She died in 2016, and I got to see her and hold her hand
before she died.  And we both told each other that we
loved each other.

The more I learn about her, the more I admire her.  And once
again my message here is love.  Thank goodness we got
to share that emotion.  She was a brave woman who had
seven children in eleven years, and continued to work as
a nurse.  She was amazing.

Have a loving your family day.