Definition of Family

There is no greater blessing than “family”.  Why?  Because a REAL FAMILY is the only place that the unconditional (agape) love of God exists.

Real families come in all shapes and sizes…  Large, small, fat, conservative, loud, many kids, no kids, biological, social, etc.  But one thing that all Real Families have in common is that 100% guarantee of love and acceptance for all its members.  Now, I know that many people reading these first few words will be moved by thoughts of their own families.  And at the same time, I know that even more people will be asking the question “do families like this really exist?”  I’m here to confirm that “yes”, families like this really exist…

Throughout my life, I have been so blessed to have been a part of several different families, each one unique, but each one firmly rooted in the agape love of God.  As most people have their own idea of what “love” is, I would like to define it in the context of the family:

How Real Families Show Their Love

1.  Real Families accept each other (with all their faults and flaws).
2.  Real Families trust in, confide in, and are vulnerable to each other.
3.  Real Families help AND accept help from one another.
4.  Real Families learn from each others mistakes.
5.  Real Families don’t hold grudges.
6.  Real Families laugh together.
7.  Real Families cry together.
8.  Real Families eat together.
9.  Real Families tell the truth to each other, even when it hurts.
10.  Real families will sacrifice everything to be with each other.

As I’m sure you have figured out by now, being a part of a Real Family is hard work!  But it is the single most rewarding gift that has ever been given…  And I am here as a witness that “they do exist”.  I know.  I am a part of one.

With great blessing comes great responsibility.

God doesn’t bless us simply so we can live a blessed life.  God blesses us so that we can bless others.  Thus, as I have been given this priceless gift of a Real (biological) Family, it is my responsibility to share this gift with my friends and neighbors.  Seriously, why can’t all of my families (biological, social, parochial, communal) interact like this?

A major characteristic of Real Families is that they are constantly growing as this unconditional love and acceptance is contagious!  The funny thing is that when you first share the unconditional familial love that God has given you with other people who may not have experienced before, they’re probably going to be a little “freaked out”…  Society, in general, is not used to this behavior.

When I treat people (friends) like family, many times they don’t quite understand:

“What do you mean you want to go out of your way and sacrifice your time to help me move in the rain?  I hope you’re not selling something cause I already told you I’m broke.”

To which I reply:  “That’s what friends (families) do.”

God is Family

It says in 1 John 4:8 that “God is Love”.  Thus, if it can be said that through our Real Families we experience unconditional love, then I believe it can also be said that it is through our familial relationships that we experience God.  To take it a step further, if Real Families can’t exist with out love, and God is love, then Real Families can’t exist without God.  For God is Family.  And Real Families Do Exist.