Shyamala looked at the scene with gratitude. What had seemed like an insurmountable task both in terms of money and time seemed so easy now. Thanks to an extremely supportive family, her daughter’s wedding had gone without a hitch. As an only child, Shyamala had never really understood the importance of having a large and loving family. It was only after she had entered her husband’s family, had she understood the true meaning of family bonding. Whether, it was her daughter’s first birthday, her husband’s illness, or her car accident, the family had stood by her through thick and thin. As she watched her daughter take her wedding vows amidst the cheers of her wonderful family, Shyamala secretly gave thanks to the blessed ties that bind.

Real life often frays the ties that bind families. Some families are separated by distance, others by estrangement and obligation. Some families due to lack of time lose touch with each other, some pretend to be so self-sufficient that they hate to have their families around. Many women, who today not only care for their spouse, children and job, also end up caring for elderly parents. Constant caretaking often creates strain and resentment as more responsibility increases.

All this has made us pay less importance to the significance of having a family life.

This week, pay more attention to one of the greatest bulwarks of your life –your family, immediate and extended.

It is possible to draw close to those you love, if you plan for it.

It is absurd to think that you don’t have time to make a telephone call to your sister, or plan a lunch with your grandparents or a movie outing with your favourite cousin.

Many of you do have the urge to send a get-well, a birthday or a wedding anniversary card to your family members, but the effort to make a special trip to the card shop seems inconvenient, so the loving gesture remains an urge.

It’s time to pay attention to the ties that bind.

Time to take time to get to know your family, to take your relationships with them to a deeper level.

To ask them directly what they have been dreaming about or secretly hoping for in their lives.

This will help you move your relationship with them to a more intimate level.

If you live away from your family members, schedule telephone calls on a regular basis. Elderly people need the weekly chat that they can count on and look forward to.

Be creative with your gestures – if you have a favourite book, get one for your mother and sister too.

Send amusing or inspirational articles by mail to your family members. It will take only five minutes of your time but think of the cheer it will spread.

Remember the birthdays of children in your extended family. Try to make the effort to remember. Not having time, or saying ‘you meant to’ is not justified. You can do it, in spite of everything. All it requires is a little bit of extra effort.

Share family stories, or videotapes. Record your parents and grandparents on audio and video. After they are gone, their voices may break your heart but they will heal your soul.

Make copies of family photographs and circulate them among family members.

Try to get together annually.

Keep in touch with family traditions. Teach your children to do so too.

Simone Weil believed, “To be rooted is perhaps the most important and least recognised need of the human soul.”

This is a wonderful thought for you this week to ruminate on as you start to draw your family closer together.

Here’s to a happy bonding.