I’ve just completed a “bucket list” trip to Egypt. It has been wonderful, and has surpassed my imagination. I have learned SO much.

Both in Cairo and in Luxor we saw lots of square masonry homes of one, two, or even three stories, with flat roofs that have rows of unfinished columns. In most cases rebar protrudes above the masonry like fingers or brushes.

It seemed odd that so many houses had unfinished construction. Our guide in Luxor explained that in this culture, multigenerational family living is typical. When a couple is able to build a house, they live on the lowest floor and immediately begin construction on the next story, so their children will have a space of their own ready when they marry. So the houses we were seeing might have great grandparents living at ground level, and grandparents above them, and parents above that, and then the roof being prepared for the rising generation.

I’m so delighted at this evidence of preparing with faith for the future and effort for loved children, and at the same time providing support for aging family members. Those fingers of rebar pointing skyward represent an enviable societal commitment to family that I wish I could bring home as a souvenir from Egypt.