Family

By Gregg Sanderson

One thing everybody knows is Family ain’t a bed of roses. When we all would get together, don’t ‘cha know When we differ in many ways Criticism’s trumping praise And harmony’s a tricky row to hoe.

Witness the dysfunction At the holiday luncheon. When family assembles from afar All have their own delight And they know their way is right No matter how opposed their viewpoints are.

Grandma’s cooking up a storm At the stove at night and morn She knows a woman’s place is in the kitchen. Mama says it’s overrated Gender roles are so outdated Grandma just says “daughter, quit yer bitchin’”

Sister Susie won’t eat meat. She calls watercress a treat. She’s a militant crusading vegetarian. Grandpa Henry sprinkles sugar On his bloody rare hambuger That’s how he became octogenarian.

Uncle Arty is a smarty Joined the Democratic Party And loudly he puts down the SUV That belongs to cousin Joe Who thinks that Arty is a shmoe. So naturally he joined the GOP.

Brother Georgie is athletic And he thinks it’s just pathetic That younger brother Ritchie is a nerd. While Georgie gets the praise Little Ritchie gets straight “A”s And each one thinks the other is absurd.

Cousin Willie is successful But his life is over-stressful With his business always calling him away. Yet the most disturbing call Wasn’t business-like at all It was just son Bob, announcing he was gay.

Then there’s uncle Jack Who somehow came out black While all the rest of us are lily white. We couldn’t ask his mama Who was down in Alabama But I’ll bet that southern belle got quite a fright. Some folks have to criticize They think they’re very wise And that they’re on their way to self-esteem. When judgment is their lot Sometimes that’s all they’ve got. A happy life for them is just a dream.

Little Lucy is a looker And she became a hooker. We all have different ways to get life’s lesson. Putting righteousness aside And letting love instead abide We each can be ourselves without suppressin’

All that yucky “stuff” we wish’ll Go away is superficial While the love inside is aching to express. Beneath everybody’s game We’re really just the same. All we want is love and happiness.

We all are sisters and we’re brothers There aren’t any others To induct into the brotherhood of man. So when somebody’s opinions Make you call out all your minions Try loving your fellow human if you can.

So now I say to you It’s all in point of view Perhaps we just might clear away the fog By thinking when we see A dog that has a flea That maybe it’s the flea that has a dog.

Happiness is BS with Gregg Sanderson

Gregg Sanderson is author of Spirit With A Smile, The World According To BOB. He is a licensed practitioner in the Centers for Spiritual Living, and a Certified Trainer for Infinite Possibilities. His earlier books were, What Ever Happened To Happily Ever After? and Split Happens—Easing The Pain Of Divorce. His latest project is the New Thought Global Network, where subscribers can enjoy the best in New Thought presentations from anywhere at any time. You can see it at http://www.newthoughtglobal.org.