What do you love best about your friends? Is it the jokes they tell or the activities you share together or the good times you’ve had? If you know me then you know the true measure of a friend is how frequently they bring me donuts! For the past 20 years my best friends have been the fellow educators I’ve worked with in Lutheran schools. Those friendships have brought me great joy, a lot of laughs, and a great deal of shared wisdom. But for me the most important element of friendship is how those men and women have supported me and stood with me during the most difficult times.
I’ve been thinking about the value of friendship in the context of our theme for this school year “You are not alone…you’re connected!” based on John 16:32b-33. Our theme focus for the 3rd quarter is “connected to friends” based on Proverbs 17:17: “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” For me the key words in that verse are “for adversity”. True Christian friendship is rooted in how we care for and love others during their most difficult times. During my years in ministry when I’ve felt “under siege” it’s been a true blessing to know my friends are there to support me. Thankfully we have a friend in Jesus who will always be with us and sustain us in even the most trying times. I pray you are the friend others can rely in times of greatest adversity. And don’t forget it always helps to bring donuts.