Prayer, spiritually. Giving, for need. Respect, to others; crucial ingredients that assemble the remedy of affection in my family.

Affection begins with clasped hands, heads down, eyes closed, thoughts of the world around us brought to God: Prayer. Prayer is a significant part of our family. In that case, we show care for others when we keep them in our prayers, even sometimes feeling pity for them, as a way to consider their circumstances and needs. The usual saying goes, “We’ll keep you in our prayers, please keep us in your prayers,” or something like that. Hence, showing that we take the time to bring our needs within the family and theirs into the hands of God so He can heal them for whatever they’re pushing through. Prayer was and always has been there from the start of my life to now, it is so familiar to my family.

Moreover, prayer in my life helps unite the family, even after a tiring or busy day. It “connects the dots.” In other words, it is almost the conclusion of the day, where we pray for each other and learn about new prayer requests or catch up on situations we’ve prayed for. Prayer is one large piece, out of the entire picture of affection in my family.

In addition to prayer, giving plays in. As a matter of fact, giving feels incredible. In particular, I remember the Ziploc bags all lined up with bright red cherries sitting on our outdoor table ready to be welcomed by our neighbors. After all, giving is a way to appreciate those around us. It can be from handing out fruits from our garden or a special gift on a special occasion, for example a 3D-printed face shield during COVID times. In spite of giving anything, it’s the heart that needs to have joy inside.

Either way, giving tells, from my perspective, that we understand the necessities of others, and want to help, showing love to the people around us.

Likewise, respect ties in with giving. It wasn’t a while ago that I understood how my family showed respect in tiny or big ways. Therefore, I didn’t know what it meant when my parents stood up when the doctor or guest entered the room or house, until just a few months ago. All pointed to respect. There are numerous other ways many people show respect, not only by standing up. I believe respect is very important in life and is a key instrument in providing affection to others, as it makes people feel honored.

Nevertheless, praying, giving, and respecting others not only brightens people around you but also enriches your character, attitude, and personality when being a part of the experience of administering affection. Furthermore, Christ asks us to do the same, when Paul writes in Romans 12:10,”Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor.”