Parents, celebrate the value of good friends. In college, there was a group of people who taught me about friendship, though sometimes I was a slow learner. They were the men and women from my cheer squad. We were like family, loyal, caring, and sometimes even a bit jealous with each other’s friends who were not a part of our group. We were together almost everyday and sometimes all weekend with long van rides to games. We had two-a-day practices and camp in the Summer. We were all united together by a common goal, but it was more than that. There was a camaraderie that is not easily matched. We cared about each other. We hurt when someone got hurt physically or emotionally. We looked out for each other. When one of us was acting like a narcissistic knucklehead, we may have called each other out on it, but we never abandoned. We were like any dysfunctional family, we each had our own quirks, but we were family. When we went to the National Championships it was as much for each other as it was for anything else. We were like the 1980’s small private school version of the Netflix show called Cheer. As I watched this show, my mind raced back to the wonderful memories with this group of friends. We have now all gone our separate ways, 35ish years removed, but it is always a thrill to hear from a team member to catch up. We are now teachers, CEO’s, world class tri-athletes, non-profit CEO’s, pastors, principals, housewives, cheer coaches, real estate agents, salespeople, flight attendants, moms, dads, doctors and other things… but back then we were… Friends. One of those guys called me the other night and we lost track of time reminiscing and catching up. The friendship picked right back up.
Good friends are a real treasure. Anita Grossmann McGinnis and I are fortunate to have good friends from all around the country. We have friends who really know us and haven’t run away and we are grateful. They are people who are also not afraid for us to know them. We all have a need to know that we belong. We need people who celebrate when we celebrate, cry when we cry, encourage when we need a boost. We social animals are all desperate for community, belonging, connection. We all want friends who know us well, share our common struggles and love us anyway. There’s a little glimpse of heaven in this picture. God always loves no matter what and when we follow Him closely we do the same thing.
God’s Word tells, in Proverbs 17:17a,“A friend loves at all times…” And it gives us an example of a true friendship in 1 Samuel 18:1saying,“When David had finished speaking with Saul, Jonathan was bound to David in close friendship, and loved him as much as he loved himself.” And Jesus tells us in John 15:13, “No one has greater love than this: to lay down his life for his friends.” (CSBBible)
Value, cherish, and love your friends well, especially in this time we are so distanced from each other. Your kids will see this and do the same.
Hang in there people! God is with us! I’m praying for you all!
