I write some about family values and have been asked to explain my definition of such a term.  Not sure I am intellegent or good enough writer to explain but I will take a stab at it.

Family values are not numbered like the 10 commandments.  Family values dont necessarily refer to a typical family made up of father, mother, kids and family pet. Family values are a feeling.  A feeling of belonging.  A feeling of caring and being cared for. Asians seem to have family values in that they care for their elderly.  They respect their elders.  Their elders are a part of the family.  I always loved and respected my grandparents in the same manner as my parents.  My wife and I attempted to teach our children that their grandparents were and are very important to them.  The maternal side of my family has held an annual reunion in Ft. Davis, Tx each year since 1962. I hope it never stops but know at some time it will.  I hate to think that but do believe my generation of cousins, etc will be the last to hold it together.

I also feel that I have a family of “forever friends”.  These are the people I was raised and went to school with.  We have been apart for many years and during our reunions over the last few years you could feel that we never really grew apart.  Oh, we moved to places all over the country but in minutes you could tell that hearts did not move.  We loved each other, cared for each other and wished each other the best.  We were exhibiting my definition of family values. During my pleading and begging  in trying to get one of our class members to come to one of the reunions she told me that since she had not ever come back to Pecos during her life she felt that many had forgotten her or werent interested in seeing her.  She came and before she left to go back home she told me how much she appreciated me showing her that I and all her classmates did care.   I guess this is what you call the family of man.

Not sure that this is a very good answer to “what is meant by family values”, especially since many of our modern families are less than traditional, but I think deep down, we all have “family values”.  We care.

Gary H Cowan