How many of us forsake our family for our own selfish desires? Drake kept it real when he said, “…I heard they just moved my grandmother to a nursing home, and I be acting like I don’t know how to work- a -phone, but hit redial and you see, I just called a chic, I met at the mall, that I barely know at all…” just think. How many of us miss golden opportunities with family? How many of us are too busy or too tired?

Unlike Drake, perhaps the case is not the grandparent. In my case it was Patrick, a dear, close cousin. I will never forget our poetic conversations, especially those used to catch up for lost time. Patrick served a hardcore 12 year sentence to prison. On a very peculiar day I received numerous phone calls from Patrick. He was having his normal relational issues and needed to talk. By 9:00p.m., I did not want to hear anymore poetry, raps and conversation about his draining, issues. Instead I wanted to kick back, watch some television and chill by myself. That is exactly what I did.

The phone rang; I ignored it. My mother answered… of course it was Patrick, “tell him I am not home.” So, she did. The next morning after a easy night of kicking back and doing me, the phone rang again. With slight annoyance, I sighed, thought to myself, ‘its Patrick, let me see what he want. I answered the phone. I was wrong. It was my aunt Tony, with tears; she greeted me, “are you sitting down?” My heart begin to race, I immediately thought something was wrong with my uncle. I was wrong again. OH MY GOD! Patrick killed his girlfriend and himself. How tragic?

Selfishness caused me to miss a golden opportunity with Patrick. It is so easy to give our time to activities, task or even people that do not add value to our lives. When it comes to family some of us grow complacent. It is easy to forget that family is a treasure. We forget the grandparents’ value, the significance of the mother and father. We fail to remember that husbands and wives are rare gift; sons and daughters are rewards. Cousins are to be treasured. What about the dear nieces and nephews who thrive off the rich attention of aunties and uncles?

In the same song, The Resistance, Drake came to his own and said, “…I want to be better than good enough…” being better than good enough with your family is operating in God’s Love. Did you know that God’s Love keeps no record of wrong, endures ALL things and is not self seeking? C’mon, stop acting like you don’t know how to work a phone. Call the niece or nephew, reach out to your sister, brother; show your grandparents you love them. Appreciate your parents. Spend time with your cousins. Regardless of the situation don’t be like Drake; reach out to your family members. Who knows you may not have tomorrow.

Ngozi Banks is sincere about God, family, and community (especially women and girls). Currently a Motivational Speaker, facilitator, freelance model, writer; resides with husband/business partner and 2 children