I grew up without cousins nearby. No family gatherings. No aunts or uncles dropping in. It was just our small family circle, and that was my normal. Looking back, I realize how much that shaped the way I saw connection and family.

Then I married Ruth, and her world looked completely different. She has cousins and aunts and uncles on both sides of her family, and they have always been close. They gather, laugh, share memories, and stay connected. Even now, she lights up when she is around them.

It was such a contrast to what I knew growing up, but it opened my eyes to something I want to share with you in this episode. Having good family is a blessing. It is a gift not everyone gets, and one that is easy to overlook until you realize how special it really is.

If you have good family, the kind that brings peace, laughter, and love, cherish them. Reach out. Call that cousin you have not talked to in years. Send a message to an aunt or uncle who has been on your mind. Life moves fast, and the time to reconnect is now.

Not every relationship is meant to be rebuilt, and it is important to keep healthy boundaries when needed. But if you have simply lost touch with someone good, do not wait too long to reach out. Family, when it is healthy and grounded in love, is one of God’s sweetest gifts.

Through marriage, I have come to see Ruth’s family as my own, and I am grateful. I may not have grown up with cousins or big gatherings, but I have gained that through her. It has reminded me that family does not always have to be by blood. Sometimes God weaves it into our lives through love, friendship, and marriage.

This episode is a simple encouragement to look at the people in your life who bring goodness, peace, and joy, and to thank God for them. Staying connected to good family is one of the best ways to honor the blessings He has placed around you.

Listen to The Gift I Never Had on Only for a Season with Mel Cruzado, available wherever you get your podcasts.