What Makes You Family?

What is it that makes people family? I know we are all part of the larger family of God, but in the here and now what makes a person family? Is it a birth right? Are you family depending on who you are with? Can you be married in and then divorced out of a family? Are you family for as long as it's good then once the bad starts your membership card is revoked? Is it the number of years you've been in a relationship? Is it in the hearts of people no matter what the affiliation? What makes people family?
My friend Ginny is an amazing woman, so warm and loving, once you are her friend she never lets you go- you become family. Ginny's son was in a relationship with a woman for 18 years, they never married, but had a loving committed relationship. This woman is very dear to Ginny so when her son and this woman broke up and went their separate ways, for what ever the reason, Ginny didn't take sides she loved them both. She always includes this woman in all family events, regardless of how her son may or may not feel, regardless if either one of them have new people in their lives. This couple have been apart for several years now but to Ginny she is still family. The woman moved to North Carolina last year about a month after I did. She thought she needed a change and she had a good job offer, so like me she came here alone. Ginny has remained in close contact with her speaking almost daily. I don't imagine that Ginny's son likes this too much and I said this to Ginny, she said " too bad he brought her into our lives 18 years ago and we love her, she is family & just because he broke up with her doesn't mean we have to, he accepts our choice ". This comment almost made me cry as that has not been my experience in my life, but it seems so simple, once family always family and who ever doesn't like it should just accept that choice. Now things are rough for this woman, she was recently laid off from that great job and has not been able to find another one. She may be evicted from her apartment and Ginny is helping her financially. I told Ginny that I think that is so amazing for her to be helping like that knowing that Ginny and her husband are struggling themselves. She said " she's family that's what families do, you help one another even if that means you have to sacrifice ". Ginny called me last night to say that this woman still has not found a job and she is very sad with the holidays approaching. Ginny wanted to send money so that this woman and I could go out to eat for Thanksgiving. I said you will do no such thing I will cook a real Thanksgiving dinner and she will come here with me and we will be thankful together for all that we have. One thing that we both have to be thankful for is having Ginny in our lives and being a part of Ginny's family.
So what makes you family? I think its love and not being afraid to do the right thing regardless of what anyone else might think, and sometimes that takes sacrifice.
Ginny could teach alot of people what it means to be family, I am thankful to be a part of hers.