My wife and I's families did the best for us growing up but a lack of money, alcoholism and our parents having a rough time growing up meant growing up for us m

My wife and I's families did the best for us growing up but a lack of money, alcoholism and our parents having a rough time growing up meant growing up for us maybe wasn't what it could have been. My wife and I now have the most wonderful family and my two kids are young adults. My family is the best thing in my life. I still don't find it easy to express myself as some others do verbally, or be huggy, but I would do anything for my kids and I know the reverse is true. I went through a phase about 10 years ago when I started to worry about death. Fear would come over me like a cloud and I started to worry that the cloud would stay. It took a while before I told my wife and I will never forget her response. She said, "you should be glad you are starting to feel normal things for the first time in your life". This was so true. I had never been loved so unconditionally before by my wife and these two little kids. Their love fixed something in me which was broken. Ironically I can now say I have no fear of departing this world. The peace that Paul talked about is very real to me. There is a completeness in being part of a loving family which makes you grateful for what has past rather than worrying about the future. When my son was a toddler we would go for walks and he was happy to play with a stick. This boxing day the kids and I will go to see the new Star Wars movie. A different type of stick but the joy continues.