When Friends Become Family

I watched my supervisor, his wife and kids pack up everything they could possibly pack in 6 suitcases, load it on a plane and head home, not knowing when or if I would ever see them again.  I cried, kissed their kids, hugged all of them and told them "see you later" (you guys know I'm not good at goodbyes).  I felt as if I was saying goodbye to not just my supervisor and his wife and kids, but I felt like I was saying goodbye to a part of my family.

It's strange, yet bitter-sweet how attached we become to people that come into our lives.  We go from not knowing people at all and being weird around them to being so comfortable and accepted around the ones we love.  We go from uncertainty with people, to comfort, acceptance, encouragement and love with those around us.  I definitely believe my boss' family is part of my family.

This led me to thinking about this one question that's been on my mind.  When did these people as well as other friends in my life become family to me?  What are the qualifications for this six letter word that we have in our lives.  While I can't speak for other people, I will say that those that are family to me are distinct from just friends.  Family are people that welcome you into their home with no questions asked and say with words and deeds "Come on in...you don't have to prove yourself...you are accepted here...rest and relax and be who you are...tell us how you feel or what you are thinking...because we love you no matter what."

From there, I got to thinking and even fear this thought.  Oh how I wish the church...the body...Christ's body, was like this to each other and to the world.  I look back on so much of my life and have felt as if I have had to jump through hoops, do a little dance or be on try-out to be able to be accepted into a group and it's not just in the world either.  I believe that if we were really like this to the world, they couldn't help but want the gift that we have inside of us.  The world is tired of the condemnation and the judgement and the pointing of fingers.  What the world needs is faith, hope and love.  Paul said in his letter to the church at Corinth "Now these three things remain; faith, hope and love.  But the greatest of these things is love."  They are looking for community, for people to love them, for a family.  We need to be Jesus to them and not their judge or jury.

My boss has been just that to me.  He has shown me how to love people even when they can be a pain in the neck sometimes.  He's taught me that people should never have to try out to be accepted.  He's affirmed in me to love people for who they are, but hope for who they could be and have faith that God will work in them.  He's taught what a home of love can look like.  I have learned faith through the smiles of their kids and compassion through their tears.  Thank you Caleb, Lindsey, Jonas and Meredith.  I'm a better person for knowing you.  Every tear I shed is one of happiness because I was blessed to know you for this past year and am blessed to get to know you more in the years to come. You guys are not friends anymore, but you are and will always be my family.  Te agradezco!