What is Friendship? What are Best Friends? What is a True Friendship?
How do these all tie together with what we, as people value and want in life?
Kindergarden is the first year most children go to school. When we go to kindergarden we jump on the bus, turn and wave good bye to our parents. Some of us even have a fit and run off the bus screaming. Have you ever wondered why some little kids are scared of the big yellow bus? I have recently thought about this, as an issue came up at college. In order to understand my point I will have to go into detail about what happened to me and my friends.
The beginning of the fall semester went so well, at least I thought. In case you don't know I attend Davis Bible College, you know the place where people who believe in God normally go to. Well anyway I have a group of friends from various backrounds. There is one kid from Belize and we call him JV. Another one is from a few different places so I just call him New York. The other is my roommate, who I also live with back home, he has many nicknames. My favorite nickname for him is Lunch Box and sometimes Nikkers. Me, well I'm describe as the Big Guy, the Defender, the leader. I love the group of friends I have, they are awesome and we are all young in the faith. Long story short, we all became great friends and started hanging everyday. After awhile, we all, started to make rude comments about one another. We kept it in, most of the time, but it had to come out sooner or later. Well it all finally came out the other day, when I told two of them to keep talking and not stop just because New York walked in. You see they were talking about him behind his back. This is something everyone is guilty of. Well I got offensive because Lunch Box and JV turned into cowards, after becoming silent when he showed up. About five minutes after that Lunch Box and I had an arugement in our room and he left. New York showed up to do some homework shortly after and play Plants vs. Zombies. When we were in the room we both received text messages. New York received one from JV, I received one from Lunch Box. I am not sure what JV said to New York, but forgiveness was given and received by both of them. Lunch Box apoligized to me as well. I forgave him, knowing that we have all wronged one another I sent a text to all three of them saying, " Forgiveness on all parties, We have all wronged one another in some way. This is the crap we sort through to make us the Brothers that we all will become." We all agreed, forgave, and moved on. Later that night we all got together and watched a movie in 3D, it was that quickly forgotten
You may find yourself asking, "Whats the point of the Big Yellow Bus then?" Well, I will get there shortly. I asked some questions before that little story, so I wanna to answer those first.
What is Friendship? What are Best Friends? What is a True Friendship?
How do these all tie together with what we, as people value and want in life?
What is friendship? Friendship is the basic acceptance of the other party, then enjoying similarities.
What are Best Friends? Best friends are the people who are next to you, they are the ones on your recent call logs and texts messages. Best Friends are the ones to catch you before you fall, not pick you up. All your friends will pick you up when you fall, it is the best friends who are there to catch you before you hit hard. What is true friendship? True friendship is the perfect relationship you can have. True friendship, is when others have your back, to their back, fighting all attacks side by side. True friendship is loving, humble, sacrificial, mercy, grace it is full of God's characteristics. True friendship is the willingness to be corrective, held accountable, and submit to one another's criticism.
Now comes the answer about the Big Yellow Bus. I believe that the kids who automatically have fits while getting on the bus face a separation issue. I believe this comes from leaving their parents and going somewhere they have no idea or control of. Now the other half of the kids are quite different. Those kids who get on first have it easy, they just sit down. But as the bus seats slowly fill in each seat you realize that the next kids who get on have to sit with someone. This is the vital part. This is the child's first dilemma, choosing who to sit with is big. You can sit with the clean kid, the one with glasses, the fat kid, the boy with long hair, the cuties on the bus, maybe others with messed up teeth or even a nerdy kid, you might just see your little suit kid there as well and we can't forget the little boy dressed in church attire... My point is that picking your friends begins with your first action of sitting on the bus. I had my best friend from kindergarden to tenth grade, all because he was the first person I sat with. This is why I believe kids are afarid of the Big Yellow Bus. They are forced with a choice that could last a life time and even dictate who they socially click with. Just like in college, the friends I have now are all the people I first sat with. It just goes to show you how simple actions in life last a long time.
The reason I wrote about this, is because It is something I care about, I love my friends and I wouldn't have them any other way. I want to challenge you readers to evaulate yourselves and your decisions.
I want you to think about the places you sit, areas you visit, and the message that your giving off. Is it worth sitting next to? Is it worth listening to and following? Are the areas you visit the same place you would tell everyone you go to? My challenge is to truely think about these things.
---God Bless---
MattyMiller
I kind of didn't even want to comment on this because I didn't know what to say, I was too contemplative. My first impression was...wow. This is very powerful, it even made me tear up a little haha, not just because my own vaulable friendship with the author, but also because of the truth of the message. It made me remember how important friendships and companionship in general are. It made me remember that friendships are worth fighting for, forgetting stupid little disagreements and grudges that can tear people apart. And to value who we have and not take them for granted, they are a great gift. Also the whole illustration of the school bus was was very well done and explained the message perfectly. All I can say is great job, keep it coming haha.
ReplyDeleteIt really just shows how as christians we should act toward each other. I liked the fact that you talked about how each of you were at fault somewhat in the matter at hand. Its important to remember especially in our christian walk that you can't just blame someone else for everything wrong that happens. You need to be held accountable and be humble enough to ask for forgiveness when you wrong someone and loving enough to eagerly forgive someone even before they ask for it.
ReplyDeleteI feel you have indeed tackled the questions you had to answer and portrayed what you were getting across really well. Friendship is not something anyone should take for granted and by reading this I know that it isn't. I enjoyed your blog. The only thing left to say is keep up the good work. Oh, and it was very rewarding getting to read this.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comments guys. Nick, thanks for the emotional description and encouragement. Kateri, thanks for leaving a statement, I very much agree with you. Leslie, thanks for reading any posting your comment. I appreciate everything you guys are doing. I really like you comment leslie, it is nice to hear that it is rewarding for others to read this. GOd Bless everyone.
ReplyDeleteim honestly impressed by the structure and meaning of this whole piece by the fact you used the first day of school compared to that. Bravo. Bravo
ReplyDeleteI see where you're coming from, I was scared of the big yellow bus myself, I never wanted to ride it when I was young and made my mom drive me to school because of that fear of seperation. As I got older I didnt mind it as much though, got used to it
ReplyDeleteThanks Anonymous, My college English teacher must be doing a great job, ha. Mark, Have you wondered why it didnt bother after you got older? Maybe becaue you picked out your friends once you sat down in homeroom or even better the cafeteria for the first time. Something to ponder on there.
ReplyDeleteI always refer to the school bus as a big yellow monster, that eats kids up and spits them out at the end of the day...no wonder some kids have issues going to school. But your perspective on what happens is spot on, and how decisions can effect the rest of your life. Was well writen.
ReplyDeleteI really liked what you said about friends in here. I have lived a few places and have met a lot of people. Through that I've learned that sometimes you have friends for the here and now, and other friends will stick things out with you through thick and thin no matter what. I also like how you said kids in kindergarten first make friends. All of it comes with what seems to be an insignificant choice that one makes, and it's not until later that one realizes that if that hadn't one thing, choice or moment hadn't happened, life wouldn't be what it is today.
ReplyDeletewe always refered to the bus as the "cheese bus"...it looks like velveeta. Anyway, I think that the idea of being abble to have the choice to get on the bus or ride with your mom to school can even go deeper...if you had been able to make that choice (to ride bus or ride car) what impact would your life be now...ie, you ride to school allows you time to meet those you might not socialze with or ride with mom and have down time with her alone at the end of the day...this thought could go on and on... ;~)
ReplyDelete