The Four "F's"

Every one should have a montra...a "life's motto." Something like "Be the best you can be!" "Take nothing with you, leave nothing but footprints." "Love you neighbor as yourself."

I was talking with a good friend recently. He asked me what I was doing, and I told him that I was thinking about what to write. He suggested that I write about his montra, which is "Live Your Life by the Four F's" I asked him what that meant and this is what he told me.

Live your life by the four "F's". Here are my friend's "Four "F's".

Faith: I am a Christian, and I think everyone should be. If you tell me you would like to discuss my faith, I will immediately think that you want to discuss my faith in God. However, not everyone would immediately tie faith to God. The bible defines faith as follows (Hebrews 11:1): "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, (and) the evidence of things unseen."


Faith can also be defined as "the essential part of a thing;" If faith is "the essential part of" things hoped for, then how can we hope for anything without faith? Can we hope that our favorite team will win if, in our heart, we know they have no chance? No, we can only cheer for them with a basis in faith.


Faith can also represent a commitment to honor and integrity. A commitment to a marriage is a commitment of faith. A commitment to service in the military is a commitment in faith. I have a young friend who recently began his commitment of service in the United States Air Force. He has faith in his country and will serve it honorably.

Family: I have a great family. Both of my parents are still living. I have a brother who is two years older than I. I have a sister who is ten years younger. Both of them are married and have wonderful families. I have another member of the family. He is not legally my brother, but that's how I think of him. He has a wonderful wife and two sons. I have a wife and two great daughters. I have a great family.

But what if your parents are already gone? What if they were always gone? Maybe you're an only child...what family do you have? Family can also be a group of people who are not blood relations but who share common attitudes, interests, or goals. Another example of family is a "church family." People who share common attitudes and goals. I don't think a church family can replace your natural family, but it can fill an important role.


What if you are not a part of a church? Your friends can be like family.

Friends:

But what are friends? A friend is someone that will look you in the eye and tell you that you are messing up. A friend will demand more from you than you sometimes demand from yourself. A friend will loan you money, never expecting to get it back...and then make sure you repay them. Not for their sake, but for yours. A friend is someone who will help you when you need help, and then ask you to repay the favor. A friend is, in our case, someone who will help you move...again and again and again.

I am a man who is blessed with many friends. When you move as much as I have, you have the chance to develop friendships. I have two friends from grade school, and that was a long time ago. We don't keep in touch regularly, but it is a good day when we run in to each other. One of my friends' dad passed away a number of years ago. When I arrived at the funeral, my friend said "I can't believe you came. I really appreciate you're being here." I replied that I knew that if the situation was reversed, he would be there for me. We agreed that going to family funerals is "what friends do." I have friends from high school and college, and from various places where I have worked.

Friends will tell you what you need to hear, even if you don't want to hear it. For several years, I was a part of an accountability group. A group of men who met on alternating Friday mornings at 6am. We held each other accountable in our Christian walk, our marriage and other areas of our life. These men had (and have) permission to tell me what I need to hear. I expect them to, and would be disappointed if they did not. I am no longer a member of this group, but these men still have permission to tell me what I need to hear.

As I said in an earlier entry, I like making new friends. However, technology allows us to have contact with friends from our past...old friends, if you will. When push comes to shove, I like old friends better than new ones. How long before a new friends becomes an old friend? I don't know, but you can tell.

Fun: What's fun for you may be different that what's fun for me. What's fun for me? Here is a short list:


Golf - sometimes

Hiking with a friend

Hunting with a friend

Church

Sports

Travel


Helping a friend move ( sick, huh?)

Talking with a friend.


You see, I have the most fun when I am with other people. I have the most fun with family, and they are my best friends. We share a common faith, as well.

The four "F's"...faith, family, friends and fun. While they may initially appear separate from one another, they are all connected. Maybe that is what my friend wanted me to see when he asked me to write about his montra. They are "all inclusive." Everything we do touches one of them.

What is your "life's motto?" What values affect everything you do, and everything you are? Who are the people that are the most important in your life? These are questions worth asking.
You can learn a lot about people by asking them about their "life's motto", but you will learn more about yourself by deciding yours.



Just some (not so) random thoughts.