Cherishing Friends and Family
Cherishing Friends and Family
In difficult political times, friends and family are viewed in a new perspective. It’s a little like my experience on a summer job shortly after my college graduation. I was proud of my independence and looked forward to all that I could contribute to my new position. What I hadn’t expected was co-workers who ridiculed protection of the environment, who thought beauty pageants were fine for elementary school girls, who persuaded me to accept a check that bounced, overdrawing my modest checking account, and who quit their summer jobs early, leaving me to fill in the gaps the last couple of weeks. As a result of this craziness, all of a sudden my parents looked a whole lot more intelligent, supportive and “cool” than I had thought since perhaps early elementary school. I’d encountered a work environment where many of my most cherished values were disrespected. It was a comfort to return home to my family where I felt much more accepted and appreciated than I’d previously realized.
I’ve once again been thinking about family values. While putting out holiday decorations I came across a self-published book written by my great uncle, Henry R. Hayek, who owned a printing company in Portland, Oregon. He died, at the age of 74, while I was in high school, and I never knew him well. My primary personal memory of him was that he printed notepads for me with my name at the top of each page. I thought that was really special. Listening to my parents talking about him, my impression was that he was a loner, with a difficult personality. There were apparently reasons we saw him infrequently. I’d never looked closely at his book, which was probably published about 70-80 years ago. Strangely, it did not include a publication date. To my surprise I found some of his short essays to be both thoughtful and relevant to today and decided I’d share them, to give new life to his writing and to acknowledge a connection to a relative from the past. Reading the book made me realize I did share some important values with my Uncle Henry.
Friends
By Henry R. Hayek, 1890-1964
The years go fleeting by like scurrying clouds. Now storms come to buffet them and beat into frenzy; then sunshine comes and drives the storms away, bringing peace and happiness. And, standing strongly on either side of these are one’s loyal and faithful friends.
There is no grief, nor woe, nor burden to be borne but finds alleviation in the thought that one’s friends would gladly share them, too. There is no joy, nor happiness, nor honor gained but finds one wanting to share them with his true and faithful friends.
Friends are woven into one’s heart and thoughts, into every thing one does, and whatever one does worth-while one does likewise to fulfill the faith his friends have in him.
Another Year
By Henry R. Hayek, 1890-1964
Time rushes on! Another year is rapidly passing into the realm of memory, and that memory will be enriched with the knowledge that the days and weeks and months comprising it have given both of us something priceless from one another. From it comes the realization that life has been made more beautiful, more purposeful and more complete through our friendship.
The true worth of each passing year may be gauged by the spirit with which one gives of himself to others and by what others give back as a mutual reward.
In this holiday season, I’m hoping we can each find common ground with friends and family, especially those we might not have fully appreciated in the past. We need each other to share both burdens and joys. Let’s also work to expand our circle of friends and maybe discover some previously little known relations that surprise us with their common interests. We are stronger together!