In our society today, the media tells us that the perfect family is made up of one cisgender and heterosexual (cishet) dad, one cisgender and heterosexual mom, and biological children. Anything that falls outside of that is looked down upon as imperfect and invalid. But this so-called “perfect” family isn’t as common as you’d think in our world, and that’s okay.

This past Sunday we heard about Sacred Time and the importance of making the most of what time we have right now. To slow down. To take a break. To check in with ourselves and our loved ones instead of watching that next episode.

We create many rituals in our lives. Rituals connect us with our own past and with the memories of our loved ones. Rituals connect us with one another -- not just with family of origin but also with the family of humanity. I know for some a specific scent may trigger a memory, while for others it could be a specific hymn/song/carol!