Jasmine, on Kinship. Sling Diaries, Vol VII.

The Sling Diaries, Volume VII. A photo-documentary chronicling the art of baby wearing in the lives of families around the world. Over the course of six months, Sling Diarists will create their own Sling Diary though a series of diary entries interpreting a unique theme given to them each month.

Meet all of our Sling Diarists here.

ON KINSHIP

We have the potential to create belonging.  A bond not restricted by blood or by name. It is a choice that values growing and intimacy, it finds itself woven in relationship.

Kinship is the thread of love.

The thread of love holds us fast when our edges come undone.

If you find yourselves mistaking isolation for independence take a moment and pause.  Breathe in.

In order to find belonging, to find kinship, we need to exchange our isolation for community.

The breaking of bread, the sharing of loads, the quiet words of courage and the moments of strength found in being heard and seen without the need to prance around in a charade of ‘okayness’. 

From the moment of conception we rely on another to meet our needs, its not called weakness, its called growth.  We are designed to need others and to be needed by others. We are our best selves when we walk together. Woven in our sameness and bound by our differences. Our strength is forged in intimacy.

The thread of love brings courage when we are drowning in fear.

If you find yourself holding on to fear masked as security, its weight all encompassing sitting heavy on your shoulders take a moment and pause.

Breathe in.

In order to find belonging, to find kinship, we need to humble ourselves to hear and trust the voice of those who have become our community.

Your kin will say:

“Arise and shine, your light has come. Now is the time to awaken your soul.

Come alive. Exchange heaviness for praise and look ahead to the future with joy and expectancy. Goodness is coming for you”.

Trust the voice of love. We are hemmed in by our victories and stitched together in our pain. 

The thread of love brings vision when we have lost our purpose.

If you find your vision warped by misconstrued ideals of ‘what ifs’ and ‘I needs’. Overwhelmed by the daily mundane, take a moment and pause.

Breathe in.

In order to find belonging, to find kinship, we need to learn to trust the design without forcing the timing. Our ability to gather and dream shapes us; the sharing of secret hidden places of our soul breathes encouragement and vision anew.

Healing is found in our gathering and fresh hope is pinned alongside vulnerability.

Kinship requires another.

It is not found in numbers but rooted in moments.

Moments spent weaving out lives together with another.

One strand alone is easily broken. One strand together with another becomes strength. 

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Follow along with Jasmine over on Instagram, @the.russells, and The Sling Diaries on Pinterest.