One evening I took the Mass Rail Transit system on the way to an appointment. Everybody in my particular coach was silent, perhaps thinking about the day's challenges and concerns. Right in front of me was a father and his young son, the former with his right arm over the latter's shoulder. The child must have been around eight or nine years old. He would look at the sights through the glass, and then whisper something to his dad. His dad would then reply softly, his mouth to his son's ear.
They would do this several times and, at one point, I was wondering what the conversation was all about. Then, Daddy planted a buss on Junior's left cheek and gently pulled the child towards him. The child smiled, placed his left hand on Daddy's lap, and leaned on his right arm.
This is the beauty of having a family. Amidst the concerns and pressures of life, in a sea of uncertainty, chaos, and concerns, there is someone, somebody you can run to. You know that you are welcome and loved. Having a family is like a refuge from the storm, a boat in the midst of the wild sea.