STICKY REUNION SITUATION

REUNION T-SHIRT DILEMMA

One of the best sights at the family reunion is seeing everyone wearing the official family t-shirt. It’s an awesome sight whether we’re at the family picnic or out sightseeing. And we go through great lengths to identify the official t-shirt each year—making sure all family members are invited to be a part in the decision making. But every year there are family members who refuse to wear the official shirt and make their own. What can we do to get everybody on the same page?  

Doug Harris with THE FIX:

In my response I assume the following:

• T-shirts come with registration for the Reunion. 
• More than one family member has made gentle comments to the offender(s) about not wearing the family t-shirt.
• At least one family elder has held a private conversation with the offender(s), asking why.

Beyond these steps not much can be done. Some people are what is called contrarian: holding positions that go against whatever positions the majority holds.  When others choose to go left, they always go right. They will always be with us and, in most cases, won't change. Pray for them. 

Sylvia Ford-George with THE FIX:

This is the one thing I’m sad to agree with Doug about—but he’s right. Unfortunately, you’ll never be able to get your entire family to agree on any one thing, and this includes the official family t-shirt. Our reunion shirts were not part of the registration. And there were some folks who purchased the t-shirt and still did not wear it, and others who altered it in some way before putting it on. So as Doug says, “pray for them”. You can’t win them all. Let’s just be grateful for the majority of them who wear their t-shirts with much family pride.