Overfamiliarity

About a month ago, Danae and I had this conversation.

Me: Nae, do you do this to your piano teacher? Do you whine and complain?
Danae: No.
Me: Why not?
Danae: Because I don’t want her to get mad.
Me: What about me?
Danae: You’re my mom. It’s okay.

I was telling King this, I found it really funny. On one hand, I understand that my children and I are extremely close, that they are comfortable with me. They are secure that I will love and accept them no matter what they do. That’s a good thing. But on the other hand, it’s just not okay to treat me with less respect than how they treat other people. I told Danae that of course.

This is a common thing for most of us. We are the least patient, the least nice, the least considerate to our immediate family when it should be the complete opposite. Because they are the most important to us, we should be kinder, more loving towards them. We should not take them for granted. We should not expect them to be accepting of our disrespectful behavior.

There’s something amiss when we can’t be nice to the very people who love us unconditionally.

Over familiarity. Being too familiar. Offensively presumptuous, an online dictionary says. Being inconsiderate of their time, effort, feelings. Expecting them to always understand. Thinking of what’s best only for you, not caring about what’s beneficial for all. If familiarity breeds contempt, think what OVER familiarity can do.

I think we are all guilty of this at times. It’s great to be very close to family and friends. To be familiar with them is a natural occurrence, but we should avoid over familiarity. We must maintain that level of respect, that honor between parent and child, between best friends, between leader and member, between siblings, between colleagues and peers, between husband and wife. Our relationships will not only be closer. They will be stronger.

Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Romans 12:10 (ESV)