The F*Bomb has been repeatedly dropped on me.
You know what I’m talking about.
“F*mily”
And not ordinary f*mily, either — out-of-town f*mily – the kind that’s on vacation while you toil away in the daily grind known as your life.
The first wave hit about 6 weeks ago (it was great seeing you Karen, Jack, Kyle & Chris!); the second hit two weeks after that (we loved having you Andrea, Maddie & Megan!); and the third f*bomb hit the ground eleven days later (and is still here — we love you Chrissy!).
Each bombardment lasts about a week and is a focal point of corporate energy — leaving a giant crater where discretionary time used to be.
These visits reminded me about the importance of f*mily, and a few things that make f*mily relationships different from other relationships:
1. You make time for f*mily. It doesn’t matter how full your schedule is; everyone is busy — get over it. When f*mily is around you adjust your priorities and you spend time together. That means you stop doing some things you normally do and you make time for f*mily.
2. You love f*mily unconditionally. There’s a love for f*mily members that exists independent of external factors. You don’t need a personality profile to tell you whether or not you’re compatible. No matter what happens, good or bad, you love f*mily unconditionally and you want to see them succeed.
3. You are there for f*mily. The little idiosyncrasies that get on your nerves are irrelevant when a f*mily member is going through a crisis. You are there for them — not because they deserve it & not because you expect something in return. You are there for them because they are f*mily and they need you. Period.
With these things in mind, I’ve been thinking about how flippantly people drop the f*bomb in churches. In fact, people are constantly dropping the f*bomb in my church — it’s even part of our mission statement: “We are a f*mily-oriented community of faith…”
“We’re all f*amily here.”
“You’re like f*mily to me.”
It’s always: ”F* this,” and “F* that.”
Really?
Is that true??
If so, what you mean is: “I’ll make time for you…I’ll love you unconditionally…and I’ll be there for you when you need me.”
Of course, then you have to actually do it.
Otherwise you’re a hypocrite.
And a liar.
And I’m pretty sure that doesn’t honor Christ.
So…
Maybe you ought to pause and think about what you’re about to say, before you drop your next f*bomb.
