Announcing a new era for Our Family Circle!: The first issue of Our Family Circle was printed in April of 1983. We have on occasion debated, as the family evolves and expands, if the newsletter should be discontinued. But those of us who have saved past issues know what a wonderful history it has become, not just of the family as a whole, but for individual families as well. So for now we will continue with the tradition.....with one concession. From now on, if everyone agrees, the newsletter will be printed only for Arza and Erma’s original eight children. The more tech savy grandchildren and great grandchildren will now access the newsletter through ourfamilycircle.blogspot.com. Using this format has several plusses: those who access the blog will be able to post comments, it will be accessible year round, and it eliminates the cost of printing and mailing.
STRENGTHENING FAMILY TIES
In preparing for this issue of Our Family Circle, I have spoken with several of you, read your contributions, and have felt an overwhelming sense of the serious struggles many in the family have faced during the past year, are facing now, or will continue to face for years to come. Struggles of every kind: physical, financial, emotional, spritual, and so on. It seems that in certain struggles it is natural to ask for help and support from the family, but in other instances we tend to withdraw from the very people who love us, those who could and would be a source of comfort and strength during our darkest hours. We are family! It is our privilege to support one another. And in this particular family there is a strength and power to help one another that comes from genuine love, deeply rooted faith, and the Priesthood of God itself. We have been privileged to witness miracles that, at least in part are the result of our faith and prayers. And it is these very trials that have the potential to increase our love and strengthen the ties that bind us forever.
For this reason and because we are beginning a “new era” of Our Family Circle, I felt it might be beneficial to remember and review some of Mother Hinckley’s counsel in that very first issue.
“How wonderful it would be if each member of the family felt a sincere responsibility for every other member of the family. How wonderful if each one in each family, in our family circle, would feel, ‘I came into this particular family circle because my Heavenly Father knew that I could be a blessing, a guide, and a help to this particular group of people. And maybe I was assigned to this family to receive the special blessings and helps that they, and only they, can give to me.’ Thereby, all of us making the journey through life easier and safer for all concerned and making it possible to continue as an Eternal Family. We love each of you, forever. Mother and Father Hinckley”
In subsequent issues Mother Hinckley wrote often of the need to strengthen our family ties. In the September issue of 1987 just after Father Hinckley had battled serious illness, she expressed gratitude for the support of family and then shared some wise counsel that is needed more today than ever.
“Everyone needs (besides grandparents, parents and brothers and sisters) uncles, aunts and cousins! And we should be very grateful for them. We should all make an effort to know, understand, love and accept those who ‘sail the sea of life’ in the same life-boat with us. You never know when a leak or a sailing problem may occur and you will need the help of all the crew.
“If we cannot know each other here, – if we cannot learn to love and accept each other and live together peaceably here, –how can we hope to get along together in the next world? ............ Here is where we practice for the life to come–here we apply the rules of Heaven and abide by them in our families so we will be better prepared to live as we should in the next life.
“Be grateful for your Family ties!.............
“A Family can pray for you, help you, forgive you, carry your burdens, encourage you, ................ bolster your spirits, feed and clothe you, break their hearts over you and still love you enough to give their lives for you.”
Mother Hinckley was a very wise woman indeed!
Love, Aunt Louise
On behalf of the whole Hinckley Family, we thank Louise for dedicating so many hours of professional work to the new "Our Family Circle" annual newsletter. It certainly sets the stage in a beautiful way for future family newsletters to be easily accessible. On her first visit to the blog, our daughter Katie remarked, "It's much more interesting this way!" Many great grandchildren will also find new interest, and enjoy it more than ever, as we seniors have since 1983. We also thank all members who contributed content, as we know it's not an easy task to gather and condense a year of family history into a few pages. It is a priceless product of love.
ReplyDelete-- Kay & Ned