Sometimes, family isn’t about who you’re born to — it’s about the love that chooses you, the kind of love that comes from people who step into your life and become more than just figures of your past.

I grew up without a father. My mother did her best to raise me, but there was always something missing. Then came Mr. Chip, my neighbor, who took on the role of a father figure without ever being asked. He wasn’t my biological dad, but in many ways, he became everything a father could be.

Mr. Chip taught me so many lessons about life. He taught me the value of hard work, the importance of respect, and, most importantly, how to treat a woman with the utmost reverence. He showed me how to treat my mother like the saint she was. His guidance and unwavering presence in my life were instrumental in shaping me into the man I am today.

When my own son was born, Mr. Chip, with a twinkle in his eye, looked at him and said, “I want him to call me Pop.” His wife, with equal love, became “Lolli.” From that moment on, whenever we say, “We’re going to see Lolli Pop,” my boy’s face lights up with the joy that only the warmth of a grandparent’s love can bring.

It’s incredible to think about how much Mr. Chip has shaped not only me but now my child as well. If my son learns even half of what I did from Pop, I know he’ll grow up to be a great man — just like the one who helped shape me.

In a world where we’re often told that family has to look a certain way, their love is a beautiful reminder that family can look different than we expect. Sometimes, you’re not born into the family you need, but sometimes, God sends you a Lolli and a Pop to fill that gap. The love that we choose to share is what truly defines family.

It’s this kind of love that keeps families whole — even when blood isn’t involved.