When I was a young man, I rented a room from a therapist whose family had rejected him. So he’d learned to create families. He’d match up patients with no “real” family: orphaned, disowned, unable to reconcile, young, old. Not all pairings clicked, of course, and some took a lot of work to get there. But others healed hearts. Many, the therapist told me, would come to him with tears in their eyes, and say, “They love me for who I am.” And he’d reply, “Yes, that’s what family does.”
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In this photo released by China’s Xinhua News Agency, a dog feeds tiger triplets and her own puppy, right, at the Paomaling Zoo in Jinan, capital of east China’s Shandong Province, Wednesday, May 16, 2007. The tiger triplets were rejected by their mother shortly after their birth. (AP Photo/Xinhua, Lu Chuanquan)
Mitch Teemley 
Cute gifs!
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What an inspiring story. Actually people don’t have to be genetically related to be clicking with each other. No, not at all. As long as you are open, you can find people to click with. Not all of them. Of course not. You have to be careful and discerning. I learned this in my life and it is the best lesson I’ve ever learned.
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Family doesn’t always mean blood relations as is obvious in these pictures. Love them. Thanks for sharing.
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Thanks, Mitch. I can relate to having to create family when there was none ❤
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Reblogged this on Love and Love Alone.
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I love these animal pictures, especially the ones that include “predators.” It never ceases to lift my spirit, seeing a foreshadowing of the Messianic promises (Is. 11:6).
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Beautiful! 💕
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Love this post 🙂
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I love the way God augments relationships and turns strangers into extended family of brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, cousins, grandparents, etc. We’ve found that phenomenon at work in every church we’ve ever been a part of.
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Yes!
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These pictures are so amazing, I had to come back and look at them again. I’ll be sharing these with my hubby after he gets home from his radiation treatment.
Regarding the Oscar Wilde quote: I don’t recall ever having a dinner that tasted THAT good. 😉
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;>)
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Pingback: Family Is… — Mitch Teemley – A Blog About Healing From PTSD
Absolutely! I picked something important here. “Family is everything.” I’m glad my mom brought us all together. She was born into disunity but, yet, still managed to get us closer and form a bond. It has made us stronger and being able to run to each other when we need help.
The pictures are beautiful!
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Beautiful story and lovd the pictures!
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Love the quotes. I have some family here but am looking forward to creating a new family of friends since I had to leave some behind when I moved. They are still there for me but I will also find more here.
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Wow. Touching and funny. I need to start dancing with the skeletons in my family.
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Thanks Mitch. Enjoyed the pics and quotes. I can most relate to this one:
“A dysfunctional family is any family with more than one person in it.” ~Mary Karr
Family dynamics 🙃
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I’m with Maya Angelou on the sustenance of a family’s love.
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Aww this is inspirational, it gives hope to all of the people who feel alone or have no current family, their maybe strangers who the haven’t yet met who becom thir family. I love this post! Th photos and quotes are beautiful and heart warming. Thank you! My family is made up from mainly non-blood people and I can slightly relate.
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Thanks Mitch! A beautiful reminder how blessed we are by family. It’s not always blood relations but I’ve been blessed to have an incredible extended family!
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Me too, Gregory.
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There are so many people who’s initial families don’t accept them, for so many reasons. And when that happens, creating a new family of their own is the best response.
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Yes, that’s exactly what family does.
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Very emotional and inspiring.
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What an amazing idea!!
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This is the most beautiful thing I have seen in a while … thank you for sharing this Mitch! 😇
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I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Akriti!
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Good
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Another magnificent curation of images
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Thank you, Deborah.
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This is so beautiful .
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Some great photos and quotes.
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I don’t know where you find the weird, wonderful pictures, but I love them! What variety God has created!
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Love the photos, and the appropriate quotes too. The mouse riding on a frog is amazing. 🙂
Thanks very much for following my blog.
Best wishes, Pete.
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My pleasure, Pete.
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