If you know me well at all, you know how much I love the Golden Girls. Their theme song “Thank You For Being A Friend” is the ringtone on my phone, I have crotched dolls in my office, and I even went to New York City to attend a pop restaurant event a few years ago. But why was I originally drawn to the show, even as a child? Their example of friendship. I absolutely loved the idea of four adult women doing life together and supporting each other through all kinds of situations.
It has begun to hit me the last few years that even though I may not live with a group of friends like they do in the show, I absolutely have the kinds of friends that offer that same level of love and support.
I am lucky to one of those people who still has a lot of friends from school that I get to see very regularly. My longest friendship is with my friend Maddy. We met in our four-year-old Pre-K class at First Pres in 2000. We lost touch for a bit in elementary school, but immediately reconnected in middle school band. We went through middle school, high school, and college together and still see each other regularly.
She has been around for so many different stages of my life, some happy, some awkward, and some downright difficult. We have hyped each other up as we made some questionable fashion choices (Robin’s egg blue shadow being one that comes to mind). And we have also held each other’s hands as we have navigated through the death of a parent who passed far too soon. We have celebrated each other’s weddings, and the birth of her daughter, who I have the honor of being “Aunt Morgan” to. I saw a video the other day that said “anyone who stayed with you through all your awkward adolescence phases, are really your people.” And that is so very true about her.
I am blessed beyond measure because I could tell similar stories about so many different friends in my life. But why is that important? Why do we need friends that we can count on no matter what? Because humans were made to be in community with one another. We were never intended to go through life alone. And quite frankly, I am a much happier person when I get to be around friends who I love and that I know love me.
It is so important to have people in your life that will celebrate with you on the mountains, and hold your hand through the valleys. But as Pastor Shannon said in the sermon on Sunday, it can sometimes be difficult to find and create those friendships as adults. So what do you do?
Over the last couple of years, I have added a number of incredibly close friends here at Trinity UMC and I have the groups I am a part of largely to thank for that. Joining the choir brought me so many talented friends that I get to hang out with weekly and share the joy of making music together. The Youngish Adultish group has lead to so many fun excursions, meals together, and even an additional book club! And the school. Well you have all heard how much each of those friends means to me. I truly could not survive throughout the school year without all their love, support, meme sharing, and constant jokes to keep everyone smiling. All of these people have a special place in my heart and I love them dearly.
Take some time this week to reflect on the different friends in your life and think of how much they mean to you. Think about how they have shaped your life and helped you become who you are today. I will end with one of my all time favorite quotes from Winnie the Pooh. “A friend is one of the nicest things you can have and one of the best things you can be.”
As always, thank you for being my friend.
Lots of love,
Morgan Rogers – The Trinity School Director, VBS Director, Tenor in our amazing choir, and a Golden Girl at heart!
