Birthday Dinner

A few days ago, I had a birthday dinner with the McKinnis family. We ate, laughed, talked, and enjoyed being together.

It was a simple moment, but it meant a lot to me.

It made me think about spiritual family.

Spiritual family is different. These are the people you meet along the way who become family because of how they love you and show up for you.

You don’t have to explain yourself around them.

When something good happens, they celebrate with you. There is no drama and no dismantling your good news. They allow you to enjoy your moment.

You can just exist and feel seen.

But it goes beyond the good times.

When life happens, they don’t ignore it or act like it didn’t happen. They see what you’re going through.

They check on you.

They listen.

They help when they can.

And sometimes that help is simply assuring you that there will be some relief while you’re trying to find your way.

I have learned how important that is.

Not everyone can fix what you’re going through, and you don’t always need them to. Sometimes you just need people who care enough to stand beside you while you work through it.

That’s what makes moments like my birthday dinner so special.

It wasn’t just about dinner or celebrating another birthday. It was about sitting at a table where I could laugh, talk, enjoy myself, and simply be Kami.

No explanations.

No expectations.

Just love, laughter, food, and a place at the table.

As I get older, I understand that family can come into our lives in many different ways.

Some family we’re born into.

Some family we find along the way.

And some people simply show up so consistently that one day you realize they have become part of your life in a much deeper way.

That’s spiritual family to me.

To the McKinnis family, thank you for giving me a space to simply be.

I felt seen.

And I’m grateful.