Family can make us feel as if we are on top of the world and just as easily can make us feel let down, picked-on, isolated, and depressed – oh, and even a wee bit crazy!

If you are like me, you have at least one family member who seems to have some traits and characteristics that make you want to run! This may surprise you but having family around like this is actually good! Yes, you heard me. I said it is good to have people like this around us.

This is the reason: without people to reflect them to us, we cannot know what parts of our character are there that we are prone to deny. We can’t know what blocks our heart from loving another person, without experiencing the desire to isolate ourselves from that person. And without family members who grate on us, we could never be forgiven for grating on others – as I assure you we both do!

As a mother of five and a grandmother of one, I am always amazed at how I can go from thinking “Wow, I am so proud that you are mine” to “Are you kidding, you want me to do what?” And these conflicting thoughts can happen in just a matter of seconds!

A Course in Miracles states that we are unstable in our thoughts, feelings and perceptions because so much of what we do is based upon addiction to certain values, ideals, desires, goals and expectations that fluctuate according to what we think is missing and needed in any given moment.

Family happiness begins with you! It begins with your ability to love one another as they are Spirit, as you choose to overlook neuroses. As you are able to see and overlook the other’s “flaws” – which you also have, or else you would not recognize them in another – we heal ourselves and our families from the belief of separation