Family Tradition

For the past several years I’ve chronicled our traditional Martin Luther King Day feast. This year's observance continued with the usual Southern spread, this time in the home of our friends. As we enjoyed barbecue pork, homemade mac ‘n cheese, biscuits, greens, and cole slaw, I realized that this tradition blesses us in more ways than I had before realized. Where we tend to share the traditions of the more prominent holidays with different people every year, Martin Luther King Day has become the one holiday we spend with the same members of our 'extended family' every year. As such it has come to mean more than even the magnificent cause of social justice and equality that it first represented for us.

When we moved to Connecticut four and a half years ago, the most-repeated prayer in our home was that we would find friends to share our lives with. For a few years we struggled through a series of firsts, not having anyone local with whom we shared any history or significant memories. Sitting around the table together last Monday, I saw how far we have come since that day with four years of MLK tradition and all the other moments shared with these wonderful friends. While not at that particular table, there have been many others as well, some of whom are still here and others who have already moved on. Whether our paths have crossed briefly or are marked by years of memories together, whether you are among our currently local friends or are among the many we keep in touch with across the miles, we appreciate, cherish, and forever value you as answers to our prayers.