Much to my delight, I’ve gained a new family.

It wasn’t through marriage or an addition to the family.

No, my new family was born of love. I’m at the age when so many of my friends have moved away or passed away. I feel every loss, because when we lose someone our circle gets smaller.

Then along came the unexpected … new friends quickly rise to the level of family. When I say my new family was born of love, that’s absolutely true.

Not everyone reaches out in love when they meet a kindred soul. It required a depth of feeling many don’t have. Then again, most of us aren’t that open about our feelings. There has to be a recognition of hearts.

I am going to struggle trying to explain it and I will definitely fall short in my attempt. Maybe I can describe it as walking into a foreign country where you don’t speak the language, but you recognize yourself in someone kind and you know that God is at work again giving you a gift, the gift of some people who reach out in love when they meet a kindred soul.

The shortest distance between two relative strangers is an open heart, then God does the rest.

Maybe I should just tell you about my husband’s birthday party and those that made it possible.

I don’t think David ever had a birthday party, at least not one like this where you start off as folks who didn’t know each other until a few months ago but now, by mutual agreement, they are all close family.

The party was planned by Tamara, her husband Gordon and their cousin Pauline.

All three readily admit they believe in doing good wherever possible.

Gordon says many years ago he committed himself to being an instrument of good. When he met Tamara, he recognized a kindred soul.

After going through 12 years of helping each other overcome adversity, a story that would make its own book, they married a few months ago. They are now united in life, as well as in doing good.

During the hurricanes that destroyed much of our area, both were a posse of good dedicated to helping those that most needed it.

For Tamara that meant using their generator and cooking meals on her outdoor grill, then inviting all without power to come share meals at her house. This continued for weeks.

Gordon is a great handyman and after the hurricane he quickly went to work making emergency repairs to help get people back in their homes. He wouldn’t stop until he had helped all within reach.

Pauline filled her house with people who needed shelter and helped many who needed rides.

Actually that’s how my husband first met Pauline and later Tamara and Gordon after David’s house was destroyed by the hurricanes.

When I was away, David would have been alone if it weren’t for Pauline picking him up and taking him to Tamara’s for Christmas. He was warmly welcomed, and they’ve been friends ever since.

All three say it’s more than friends. “We’re family,” they say. “We’re there for each other.”

Sunday was supposed to be a time to unite with friends, after we all first went to church together. David is seldom physically able to commit to four hours of church, lunch and socializing with friends he seldom sees.

Sure enough, he lasted through church then needed to go home. But I didn’t drive and we were 45 minutes away from home.

After a comedy of errors, we called Tamara to pick us up. With no notice on an early Sunday morning she dropped everything and came with her husband to pick us up. They acted like we were doing them the favor. They reminded us once again that we are family.

There’s a growing connection of “family” in our little community. I found out no one is connected by blood. We are all family by choice, united by a bond of love.

If you are capable of caring about your fellow man then you qualify to be part of this family.

This is especially important for those of us navigating through life’s challenges without family nearby. With advanced age comes advanced challenges, many that seem to come all of a sudden without notice.

My two daughters are incredibly supportive. When my own health crisis arrived in the middle of the night, our emergency department responded instantly.

My daughters both dropped everything to fly here to be with me. I was so proud of them as they sprung into action, asking the right question to determine what was going on. I’m sure part of my calm was because they were here.

I grew up in a family that all lived in the same town. When anyone had a crisis of any kind, the family was there to help.

While our family is now scattered across the country, we are there when needed.

When my daughters had to go back to work, they called every day and helped in so many ways.

They both tell me they are grateful I have people in my life that care enough to say they are family.

I continue to feel blessed every day.

It makes me determined to be there for others. I know what a difference it makes when we reach out to help others.

Email Pattie Mihalik at newsgirl@comcast.net.