A few weeks back I listened to an interview Lara Logan had on her podcast with Serbian’s most successful businessman, Bogolub Karic. In listening to Bogolub, who’s family goes back many generations in Serbia and the area formerly known as Yugoslavia, he share how his family became so successful in an area of the world that we don’t think of when we think of entrepreneurial endeavors. In fact, Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, still with many areas still showing wear from the Bosnia-Serbian war back in the early nineties. Serbia is still a country still in many ways rebuilding, coming back and hoping for more success. Bogolub’s family, back in the early 1970s gained favor with President Tito (of Yugoslavia) because of their reputation as an upstanding family with many priests and honorable men and were given a ‘pass’ to develop and grow the family business, which was not the norm in a communist country. For what ever the reason, Tito allowed his family’s business to grown from construction to education, manufacturing to banking, later tech and now they are know as real estate and industry developers. Other eastern block leaders sought Bogolub and his brother’s for the secret to their success. He is known as the ‘First Capitalist of Yugoslavia.’
When asked by Lara the key to his family’s success, he says that he feels the secret is that they are a close family that relies on one another. He feels that the key to any country’s success is strong families. In looking at America, he says that for the last few decades families have been divided. He feels that the new President and his administration, is bringing strong families back.
When I watched the US Men’s Hockey team win the gold medal on Sunday morning, I thought of that interview. Looking at the families of the team in the stands and then when the two players went to get the very young children of Johnny Gaudreau, who was a good friend of many of the players, who may have made the Olympic team had he not been killed by a drunk driver while riding his bike with his brother-also killed. The significance of strong families played a role in that team’s victory. Even the widow of Johnny Gaudreau, now a single mom raising three small children alone, benefited from the strong family of that Hockey Team and she will continue to as the years go on.
Top left Johnny and Meredith Gaudreau with their young family. Top right, the two brothers with their wives in happier times. Bottom left, the Gaudreas family before their second son’s wedding with their daughter. Mr.& Mrs. Gaudreau at the Olympic Games on Sunday.
I agree with Mr. Karic. A strong family will be the foundation for children to grow up knowing right from wrong, having a reverence for God and will have common sense instilled in them. Strong families are the strength of communities and neighborhoods. Those neighborhoods and communities with strong families can be of support to the families who need help and a hand up along the way, just as the “Family” of Team USA was support for the entire Gaudreau family when they lost their two sons. It was the TEAM who invited them to be there for the final game on Sunday. Had Johnny’s widow, had a passport for her infant, all three children would have been there too. The family of the TEAM gave support to that family in their time of need and almost a year and a half later, there are still there, wrapping their arms around them an ocean away.
We all know families and communities that have stepped in to care for one another. The TEAM USA example is visible on the world stage, but we see it every day, people looking out for people.
I saw it yesterday at the White House when Angel Families were brought together to support one another each having lost a child or other family member to the hands of an illegal immigrant.
I agree with Bogolub, the American Family has taken a beating over the last fifty years. We saw that in the increased divorce rate, decrease in the number of marriages, decrease in Church attendance and the rise in crime and murder rate.
Maybe the tide is turning…In the past year, we have seen some change. The murder rate has decreased, Church attendance is up-has been since covid) more people are reading the Bible, more young people are feeling favorable on marriage and starting a family…All of these contributing factors can benefit and help grow strong families. AND, we all benefit when our neighborhoods, communities and country are made up of strong families. Good strong families look out for one another and look out for those who need help. Many great days in my life have been the result of a strong family both on the giving and receiving end when we found ourselves in need of a help and I am grateful to my Lord and Savior for that. Wishing you a Great Day🍎
