DIVERSITY

What is diversity? I think we probably live around a lot more of it than we realize. This past summer we, as a family, met at the ranch for a Boyd Schwieder family reunion. As I look back on the good time we had, the fun and play we enjoyed and the wonderful meals we ate, I marvel. We are quite a diverse group of people.

            In this group there are:

• ·         Two old fogies, (Boyd and I), then our children, their children, and the great grandchildren. That’s diverse in itself:
•          We all have our own interests and activities we participate in.  Some are sports minded, some love the outdoors with camping, hiking, and hunting. We have seamstresses, those who work with wood, a glass blower, and a few runners. We have those who are active in our church, those who are inactive, those who claim to have no religious affiliation, and those who don’t care.
• ·         We have addicts, recovering and active. There are those who smoke and drink and many who don’t but respect the rights of others to choose. We even have those who have spent time in jail.
•          We have talents such as music, art, glass blowing, photography, computer technology, crafts, yard work, and many others.
• ·         We have a member of the LGBT group,
• ·         We have tattoos, body piercings,
• ·         There’s a big difference in education from one granddaughter who is an attorney to another one who is studying to get her GED. We are as proud of one as of the other. We have college graduates and those who are self-taught. We have two with master’s degrees in psychology and are working as counselors. We have a CNA, a CPA, and a graphic artist. We have Doug who travels to Antarctica to work for six months out of every year and Jon who works with us on the farm. We have farmers, builders, a bar tender, and workers at INL. All of our family are good workers and have no problem finding jobs.
• ·         We also have witnessed members of the family struggle through divorces, seen children torn because of that.
• ·         We have members who have struggled with cancer, some are diabetics. There are those with high-blood pressure, others on antidepressants and anti anxiety medications, some cases of autism and autoimmune diseases. Mental illness is not a stranger to our family. There are those of us who are overweight, and then some who could use a bit more weight. We have had one son die, which affected all of us.
• ·         There are those who have served in the military and one who is still serving in active duty.
• ·         There is one Native American in our group and an African American child and also an African American significant other. But you would never know of this diversity to be in the group who met at the ranch this summer. Our African American child and SO weren’t able to come, but when the child came to a wedding a year ago he was accepted along with everyone else.
• ·         We have Democrats and Republicans and those who don’t like either party.
• ·         We stretch from Boston, Massachusetts to Vancouver, Washington to Antarctica. Right now, our grandson who is in the military is state side, but we don’t know how long that will last.

Not everyone is able to attend, but we get a good group when we have these reunions. When we
get together, we are a family who cares and loves each other. I know that if I ever needed any one of them, they would do what they could to help me. And they would do the same for other members of the family. It is interesting as our family gets together how we blend. No one ever complains when we pray before each meal. No one brings out another’s difference or problem. Nearly everyone sings along when son’s- in-law Asa and Ken get out their guitars in the evening and start to play. There were no restrictions when we had a water fight. Everyone was treated equally and got to be doused with water, except for Boyd and me. There are hugs as people show up to the reunion, and hugs as we leave. There are words of encouragement toward each other, questions about what is going on in other’s lives.

We have been blessed with a good family of hard workers who love us even with our imperfections. We pray for them as they struggle, encourage them as they try, and are proud of them as they succeed.

What would the world be like if we could all accept diversity and love those who are different from us? Maybe looking at the diversity in our own families will help us realize our family is no different than the world we live in. At this time of the year when we are looking for things to be thankful for, I especially appreciate our family and all of our diversities!