Friendship Connects Authentically

Friendship is something most of us highly value. Friends encourage us, laugh with us, cry with us, and often become as close as family. The book of Proverbs has several passages remarking on the importance of friends.

“There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” Proverbs 18:24

“A friend loves at all times.” Proverbs 17:17

“Better a neighbor nearby than a friend far away.” Proverbs 27:10

While children are still learning how to build friendships and what makes a good friend, most adults already know the process. So take a minute and think about your closest friends. Bring their faces and names to mind and consider what you appreciate about them.

Now consider that list of friends in light of the SOS we are focusing on this week. Dalat students connect authentically by building friendships with people of different cultures and generations. In your group of close friends, are there any people from different cultures or generations other than your own? Maybe not. We often tend to form close relationships with people who are similar to us: same culture, parallel stage of life, identical church, common background. There is nothing wrong with this; having friends who understand you well is important.

However, building friendships with people who are different from you is equally significant. These people challenge you to grow and reconsider some of your assumptions and beliefs. They help you appreciate a wider variety of people and offer a different perspective.

In both our school data and informal conversations with students and parents, this SOS suggests that we have significant room for growth as a community. I want to encourage you to try to reach out and build a friendship with one person who is from a different culture or generation than you—just one! The kids need to see us modeling this in order to truly understand its value. While there may be some bumps along the road to navigate, these varied friendships will become worthwhile and important.

“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” John 15:12-13