by Josephine Kemper

It's people connected by birth or law or love-It's squabbles and tears and jokes that nobody else gets-It's the people you turn to when the bottom falls out of your life-It's the people you depend on, no matter what. We are family: Chicken soup for the soul, warm hands in a chilly world; we are family: we hold each other up.

God of our people, we give thanks for family, we give thanks for family, wherever we find it. For strong sisters and gentle brothers, brave mothers and tender fathers; for real friends, faithful buddies, lovers and partners; for those who carry us when we're weak, believe in us when we're crushed, love us even when the don't understand. Our family-may we reach out to them, hold them and cherish them, say the words while we still have breath-give back the love poured out on us. Dear God, wherever we find it, however it comes, however long it lasts-we give thanks for the blessing of the family.

May God bless all our families!