It’s amazing how just because your grandparents are gone, that seems to mean that you’re no longer family with relatives. I can’t understand why. I wish it weren’t true, but it seems that way, at least with my family. I try to get along with them, but we disagree on some key issues and they don’t want to be around me because I am not a liberal Democrat. I am also a Christian which some of my family members don’t like. I don’t know why they feel like they have to attack my religion when I don’t care what they believe in. I miss our family get togethers, but I guess those are over for the Judd family. I haven’t seen my family on Thanksgiving or Christmas since 2008. I’m glad that nothing can tear my mom’s family apart. I don’t think anything could come between us and even when my grandparents are gone, I believe that we will still get together. It just saddens me to think that death can pull a family apart like this. Even when I’ve argued with cousins, I still didn’t want to see anything bad happen to them and I still wanted to be friends with them like we used to. I had a cousin screw me over on a car and I was mad for a few months and then I got over it, there is a time to move on and forget the past, but sadly I have some cousin who can’t and won’t even accept an apology and acknowledgement that I was wrong. So I am done and in a few years when I am making more money than them and they need a doctor they don’t need to come to me. I know that sounds cold, but they act like I am the stupidest person alive and that I am not going to make it through medical school. I will do it, because I have parents that support me and always will be there for me. I don’t need my cousins’ support, I will make it on my own. And if they don’t want anything to do with me, then that is just fine. All of this reminds me of Dolly Parton’s song “Family.”
When it’s family, you accept them, ’cause you have no choice but to
When it’s family, they’re a mirror of the worst and best in you
And they always put you to the test
And you always try to do your best
And just pray for God to do the rest, when it’s family

Some are preachers, some are gay
Some are addicts, drunks and strays
But not a one is turned away, when it’s family
Some are lucky, others ain’t
Some are fighters, others faint
Winners, losers, sinners, saints, it’s all family

And when it’s family you trust them and your heart’s an open door
When it’s family, you tolerate what you’d kill others for
When it’s family, you love and hate and take, then give some more
Somehow you justify mistakes, try to find some better way
To solve the problems day to day, in the family

You take the trouble as it comes and love them more than anyone
Good or bad or indifferent, it’s still family
You choose your lovers, you pick your friends
Not the family that you’re in, nah
They’ll be with you ’til the end, ’cause it’s family

And when it’s family, you forgive them for they know not what they do
When it’s family, they’re a mirror of the worst and best in you
When it’s family, when it’s family
Let me be all that I should be to the family

When I think of Psalm 23, I think about my grandparents and how Grandma Reice loved this verse.  It has been almost three years since we lost her and it makes me sad to think about how she will never get to see me graduate college and medical school or get married and have kids.  She was so very proud of me and what I was studying to do, but then again she was proud of all her grandchildren.  When she passed over I didn’t know how I was going to move on, but time and family have eased the pain.  I know that all of my grandparents who have passed, Grandma Reice; Grandpa Buddy; Granny Edna; and Grandma Bonnie, are up there watching over me and all of my family members.  It is just hard to deal with the fact that they are gone.  At least they are no longer in pain and don’t have to take any medicines for diseases that they had here on Earth.  I am happy that they are up in Heaven looking down on us and they are with God and Jesus.  They are now walking with their parents and other family members, so at least I will see them again someday.

If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.(Matthew 5:41)  I try to live my life by this verse.  Everyone should do at least one good deed everyday and if someone asks you for help, go above and beyond what they asked for.  I believe that all people should do good and try to help their fellow man.  It may be just me, but I believe that’s the reason we were put on this planet.  I try to help anyone I can, when I can.  We will all need help at some point in our lives.  I have needed some help in the past and very few people were there for me, it was then that I realized how important I was to some people and how unimportant I was to others.  I don’t care how much I may dislike someone, if they need help I will be there for them.  That is part of why I am studying to be a doctor, I just want to help people for the rest of my life.

So far my life has had many ups and downs, but the good Lord has taught me how to be strong despite everything.  I want to share a little bit about myself.  I am 22 years old.  I was baptized on February 12, 2006.  But I had been a Christian long before then.  God has allowed me to follow my dreams and so far that has led me to college at Oklahoma State University and in one year I will be hopefully enrolling in medical school.  Life has so far been good to me.  I feel that as long as you have the Lord our God in your life you will have a wonderful life.