But You Got to Have Friends...

I'm not sure if that title is a song or not... but it should be. Over the course of the past two weeks, I have been continually impressed with the quality of friends I possess. And on a day like today, I am ever so thankful for them.

I'm reading a very interesting book published by David Kinnaman of the Barna Group. This organization conducts research on society today, and how it views Christianity. The book I'm reading is UnChristian: What the New Generation Really Thinks about Christianity... and Why it Matters. In the book it describes in the first chapter how today's generation (18-30), whom they call Mosaics (I prefer Millennials), places such a high value on friendship and loyalty. As I read the statistics and various surveys that were done to conclude this data, I realized how true this is in mainstream media, and pop culture. I mean, look at some of the most popular shows on TV! Cheers? Friends? (Dare I mention)Sex and the City? Each of these shows has a great devotion to friendship, and that's a large part of what draws people to watch, to see how even though life happens all around the characters, often in messy ways, their friends are always there. Even though there are many things in these shows I disagree with, it's evident that the writer's understood Proverbs 17:17.

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity

And so I find myself, sitting in the dim glow of the computer screen, reflecting on my most recent visit to Ohio, my mind revisits all of the memories that were most recently made.

A group of girls, getting ready to turn out the lights. Enjoying giggles, sharing their hearts, and sitting in the warmth of their love for each other.

Two friends, talking late into the night, sharing thoughts, memories, and wishes
for the future.

Four friends playing cards, passing laughter around the
table as they grow up together.

A dinner after shopping, coffee after dinner, uplifting
conversation after uplifting conversation.

Playing phone tag, but never giving up, and giving in to
communicating over facebook.

Two girls getting coffee, and wondering about what will
happen next.

Two girls nervously sitting in a kitchen, not sure of
what the other will say.

A phone call over the stresses of school, and spending
time to hear what the other has to say.

There are others to be sure, but these are the ones that stand out in my mind and make me realize how grateful I am and need to be. These are the friendships that make life what it is, that helps us grasp what God wants us all to have, and that keep you going in times of hurt and loneliness. These are the memories that I will hold onto.

Friends come, and friends go.
But a true friend sticks closer than a brother.
Proverbs 18:24.