Strawberry Letter Keeping It All In The Family
There's a popular saying that goes, "Blood is thicker than water." However, what happens when the blood within your family is tainted with secrecy and deceit? This is the topic of the latest Strawberry Letter titled "Keeping It All In The Family."
The Story
The letter writer, who remains anonymous, shares her story of growing up in a family where secrets were the norm. She talks about how her mother would often keep secrets from her father, and how her siblings would keep secrets from each other. However, the biggest secret of all was that her father had a child with another woman while he was still married to her mother.
The letter writer goes on to say that her father's secret child, who is now an adult, has recently come back into their lives. Her father, who is now elderly and in poor health, has asked for forgiveness from his daughter and wants to include his secret child in the family. The letter writer is torn between wanting to forgive her father and wanting to protect her own feelings and those of her siblings.
The Issues
The Strawberry Letter raises several important issues that are common in many families. The first issue is that of secrets. Many families have secrets that are kept from one generation to the next. These secrets can range from small things like a family recipe to big things like a long lost sibling.
The second issue is that of forgiveness. Forgiveness is a powerful tool that can heal many wounds. However, forgiveness is not always easy. In this case, the letter writer is struggling to forgive her father for his infidelity and is also struggling to forgive her siblings for keeping secrets from her.
The third issue is that of family dynamics. Every family has its own unique set of dynamics that can be difficult to navigate. In this case, the letter writer is struggling to balance her own feelings with those of her siblings and her father's secret child.
The Solution
There is no one solution that fits every family. However, there are some things that families can do to help navigate these difficult situations.
The first thing that families can do is to communicate openly and honestly. Keeping secrets only leads to more secrets and can create a toxic environment. By communicating openly, families can create an environment of trust and honesty.
The second thing that families can do is to practice forgiveness. Forgiving someone doesn't mean that you condone their behavior. It simply means that you are willing to let go of the hurt and move forward. Forgiveness can be a powerful tool for healing and can help to repair damaged relationships.
The third thing that families can do is to seek outside help if needed. Sometimes family dynamics can be too difficult to navigate alone. Seeking the help of a therapist or counselor can provide an objective perspective and can help to mediate difficult situations.
Conclusion
Keeping It All In The Family is a common issue that many families face. By communicating openly, practicing forgiveness, and seeking outside help if needed, families can navigate these difficult situations and come out stronger on the other side.