Family Matters

Today I woke up thinking about "FAMILY" and the real meaning of it, I have always been a firm believer of being close to your family, but my main question here is; what really makes a family? can someone please explain this to me? because I am a little unsure of the concept, thougout my life I have found myself bonding with people who were not my family, and they have in a sense helped me along the way and made me appreciate life, these very same people I was proud to call family, and we have developed the bond that I can never call them nothing less of a family. So my question today is for someone to please elaborate the meaning of the word "FAMILY". Thank you for taking time out to discuss this with me.