As I examined my Facebook Friends list, I began to wonder just how often I really had contact with the people on it. I looked at the names and the categories (lists) I had placed each of them into. Some are in a list entitled “Close Friends”. Others are “Farmville Neighbors”, “Old Friends”, and “School Friends”. And finally there is the “Family” category. I would like to be able to say that everyone fit into this last category. But, unfortunately, the times we live in don’t lend themselves to people truly becoming family.
“Family “ is a title that is usually reserved for people that we are related to, either by birth or marriage. For me, however, this title carries with it great meaning and responsibility. Family are not merely people I am related to. They are people that hold an important place in my life and heart. They are people I would drop anything for and go to the ends of the Earth for if they simply asked. And they are people I cannot go even one day without thinking about.
We are commanded to love one another with a Christ-like love; a love that is unconditional, a love that knows no ends. And yet, we treat each other like strangers, except when we meet at church, work, or the local grocery store. We go days, weeks, months, and even years without even a thought for family members. We spend more time, money, and effort getting to know our customers, store clerks, and TV show characters than we do our family.
Growing up I recall family gatherings on a regular basis. When a birthday came along, we got together to celebrate it, as a family. When a holiday would roll around, we gathered. But we did not simply gather with relatives. When a close friend had an occasion to celebrate we gathered with them as well. There are many people in my life that I have called “aunt”, “uncle”, or “cousin” that I don’t share a blood or marriage relation with. And I think about each and every one of them almost on a weekly basis, if not more often.
I believe we have cluttered our lives with so many entertainment distractions that we have forgotten the important things. Our “Kin Folk” of yesterday are becoming “Folk Lore” of tomorrow.
