Kith and Kin

My mind has been turning to love of those dear to me, prompted by the sad news that my brother in law is stricken with leukemia and the good news of an impending visit by my son and our newest daughter in law.

Thinking about it, families keep growing: brothers, sisters and children marry and bring husbands and wives … and if you’re lucky, nephews and nieces and grandchildren.

Even though husband and wife lose that status with divorce, father and mother do not. Brothers and sisters in law do not cease to be brothers and sisters on divorce or remarriage or death.

The in-laws are kin but their families are kith.

Friends are kith even though some are closer than kin.

 

My son who is a soldier is about to embark on an operational posting and I have been beseeching Blessed Michael the Archangel to watch over him, as he did in Afghanistan.

I mull over what sage words I could say to him, but have realised :

• ·         One can give sage words only if asked
• ·         Those words should be good for all
• ·          Pooh says most things better than I do.

 

 

 

Piglet: “How do you spell ‘love’?”

Pooh: “You don’t spell it…you feel it.”

 

The one that frequently consoles me is:

“If the person you are talking to does not appear to be listening, be patient. It may simply be that he has a small piece of fluff in this ear.”