Family love is one of the most valuable gifts in life and one that you cannot buy anywhere. Whether you have a close relationship with your family depends on you. 【小题1】

【小题2】

You’ve probably heard the song lyric, “A house is not a home, when there is no one there to hold you tight”. What changes a house into a home is true love. Love strengthens the connection, while anger tears it apart.

Give Freedom

It doesn’t matter whatever position you have in a family; you need to give freedom to the other members of it. 【小题3】Freedom is one of the most basic needs of humanity and one of the greatest gifts in life.

Learn to Forgive

There will always be differences in personalities and preferences between family members. Because of these differences, disagreements happen. And it’s unwise to react straight away, to jump to conclusions and start an argument. 【小题4】

This gives you a better understanding and the ability to forgive more easily.

Look for Solutions

Family life is not a battlefield. Do not focus on problems; instead focus on the solutions. Although we are all expected to be responsible for our actions, it still feels more comfortable for some to put the blame on others. 【小题5】This is one of the fastest ways to bring you closer to your family.

The e-mail request came in to Ekiben restaurant in Baltimore late on a Thursday afternoon. The man, Brandon Jones was writing for his mother-in-law, who loved the dish. He explained that she was now in the final stages of lung cancer at her home in Vermont and that he was hoping to get the recipe to make it for her there.

Steve Chu, one of the Asian fusion restaurant's co-owners, read the e-mail and quickly replied with another suggestion, "Thanks for reaching out, "he wrote. "We'd like to met you in Vermont and make it fresh for you.”

For the past six years, every time Brandon's mother-in-law visited Baltimore, the first place she wanted to go was Ekiben so she could order that dish. “She had always told us, 'When I'm on my deathbed, I want to have that broccoli (花椰菜),'” recalls Brandon's wife, Rina Jones.

That Friday after work, a day after receiving Brandon's e-mail, Chu prepared all the food ingredients (原料) and then headed for Vermont with his business partner and an employee. They stayed overnight in an Airbnb rental and drove the next day to where Rina's mother lived. After cooking and boxing everything up, they knocked on their customer's door.

“As soon as she opened the door, she recognized the amazing smell,” Brandon says.

Rina says her mother also recognized Chu and his coworkers. “My mom kept saying, 'You drove all the way up here to cook for me?' She was so happy and touched to have that broccoli.”

“It was an honor to help make the family's wishes come true,” Chu says.“There was a lot of good positive energy in doing this.” Rina was happy that her mother was able to enjoy her beloved broccoli with a side order of excellent kindness one last time.“My mom cried later about their generosity, and so did I.” Rina says.“I'll carry that positive memory with me always.”

There can be magic in the touch of a hand that loves you. It brings comfort and a silent promise that says, “I am here and you are not alone.”

When my children were born, I memorized every detail about them: the skin that felt so, soft, the lips that looked like a pink flower, and the eyes that looked deep into my soul. And, of course, their hands.

As babies, they reached for me whenever they were hungry or tired or just needed to be held. Sometimes, if they woke in the night, just the touch of my hand would case them back to sleep. They clung (抓住) to me when they took their first ’steps and we held hands when crossing streets and walking from the car to their classroom on their first day of school.

My hands picked them up when they fell, and clapped louder than anybody else at their sports games and plays. Their hands waved at me from the window of a school bus, the stage of an auditorium (观众席), and from the bottom of a pool.

As they grew older and more independent, I noticed that they didn’t hold my hand much anymore. I told myself it was part of growing up, and I should just be glad they could do things on their own now. But when you’ve been needed so much for such a long time, it’s hard to step back and feel unnecessary.

Then one day. I was visiting my oldest son in New York, where he was working as an actor on a TV show. As we were about lo cross a busy street that was filed with traffic, he grabbed my hand and shouted, “Hang on 10 me, Mom,” then led me safely across.

At that moment, I realized two things. First, my boy had become mature. Second, it was clear that our roles had changed. We still needed each other but in much more different ways than before.

That scene has replayed in various ways with each of my three children. They have all taught me to lean on them just as they once leaned on me, and that we can always lean on each other. We live miles apart, but stay in touch every day, There is magic and comfort and healing in the touch of a hand that loves you, even if it “touches” you from afar.