I had some good friends growing up in rural North Carolina. We rode the school bus together, played on the same sports team, ran through the woods, and built forts together. We played hide-n-seek, kick the can, and stickball in the road. We had dirt clod fights, threw “Cow Patties” at each other, and rolled the neighbors’ yards with toilet paper. We hung out at each other’s houses, never thought about what we had or did not have, and we made up quickly when we had a spat. We were innocent, free, and accepting, and we stood together. We were friends!
What does it mean when you call someone a “Friend”? A friend is more than just an acquaintance. It implies something deeper. I am grateful for the friendship you show me through your support, love, and care, and when I call you my friend, I am eager to reciprocate the same.
One of the things I admire generations behind me is their desire to understand and model friendship within their social spheres. Perhaps this is a natural shift from the hyper-transactional social consumerism thrust upon them, or maybe it is a spiritual response from God as the older generations cry out in prayer. I am learning as a Christian leader to understand the dynamics of both being true and finding the place of intersection as a great place to invest.
Jesus defined friendship as “laying down our lives for another.” As we approach Memorial Day and take time to honor and mourn U.S. military personnel who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces, let’s consider their sacrifices made to afford the opportunity even to witness “One Nation under God.” Let’s prayerfully realize this moment when our children are learning that self-sacrifice, laying down their lives, and seeking after God leads to a life full of Friends. No, not Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter friends, but real friends, the ones willing to lay down their lives for you.
At Doing Good at Work, we help people create workplace cultures where people can be friends and practice friendship. We educate and equip people with the mindset, tools, and skills to work together toward common goals. This doesn’t happen by accident, but you can create a plan to build the workplace culture you want. Click HERE to start the conversation about developing a plan.
REMEMBER: Better People make Better Businesses, and Better Businesses make a Better World.
Encouraging Others,
Boomer
Dr. Boomer Brown, Ph.D., is the CEO of Doing Good at Work, a 501(c) 3 organization that operates with the efficiency of a business. Our mission is to ‘Make People Better’ because we firmly believe that better people make better businesses, and better businesses make a better world. Learn more about our work and how you can be part of this transformative journey: https://doinggoodatwork.com/