They Call Me Friend

"One's friends are that part of the human race with which one can be human"
- George Santayana

I have to start this one by thanking God that he saw fit for me to have the world's greatest friends. So much so, that I would like to thank you all here, and you know who you are, for being the better parts of me when I couldn't be.

For my bestest, I'd like to thank you for listening and standing by me, even when everyone else would have thought I was crazy. You're always are on my side, even when I know I'm wrong. Thank You.

I would like to thank my little sisters for being my air when I could not breathe and my squad, for life. My cousin who has always been a little panicky but will forever be there to pray with me. For the love of my life, who is ALWAYS there for me, no matter how late, and will take time to explain the mystery of boys. For my homie, that always provides support, Mexican food, and a calm environment that I can run away to.

I could honestly dedicate an entire novel to the people in my life, I call friends. If any one asked me who contributed to the good in me, I would say God and the people that he has placed in my life. Although some individuals are there with me every step of the way, friends are not required to check in everyday, nor are they required to have a physical presence. I am also thankful for all my friends that are far away but still write, support, call, and love me. I love you all as well.

My reason for writing this is not to shout out the people that have done for me, but to call the reader to take a look in the mirror.

This morning, I had a conversation about the lack of work ethic in our generation. I defended the generation, as the other person explained that sometimes young entrepreneurship is an excuse to do nothing. Needless to say this conversation was a little frustrating because to me, it's a risk to pursue your dreams and a noble one at that. Sometimes things don't work out but in the world there are people that chase their dreams and their are people that survive. In either, there is failure or success, but for my life, I would rather know that I tried everything to reach my dream then look back and think about what could have been.

The conversation eventually turned into a conversation on "How much of a support should you be to someone?" How much support do you give? When do you stop catching someone when they fall? When do you walk away from someone who needs help?

I told the person that you should give until you can't any longer. I know this is radical, so let me break it down: I have had many times in my life where I thought I had nothing left. Maybe it was superficial because I was young and I had a family who could provide, but I THOUGHT I was at my last. In those times, I felt like I had done all that I could to succeed and failed; I was not alone.

There was always someone there. Be it, God, my best friend, my sisters or brothers, there was always someone to lend a shoulder, ear, money, couch, life line, etc. One time in particular, I had no money for books. I had been working, was really involved in ministry, and was broke. That week a friend brought me enough money to pay from my books with a little extra, with out even knowing there was a need. This is just one of my experiences of the endless level of support that a friend can provide.

I know that there are some people in the world that are not all about cotton candy and rainbows. There are some people that will use and misuse people who give until there is nothing left but that's the lesson in friendship that people seem to miss. Friends don't do that. There are people who call themselves a friend, and there are people that are called friends.

They call me friend.

So when asked "How much of a support should you be to someone?" I answer as much as it takes. When asked, "How much support do you give?" I answer as much as they need. When asked, "When do you stop catching someone when they fall?" I answer when they can be their own net and when asked "When do you walk away from someone who needs help?" I say, you don't.

For every time that there is another person in need, there is a point that you have been or will be vulnerable. I just think that if I can, I will because not only would I want it that way for myself, but I have had it that way in every friend I have been blessed with and I will only be a blessing in response to that.

Again, I don't believe any one's personal limitations are better than someone else. I'm just asking that we evaluate the person that we are, against the person that we want to be and get there. Simple enough.

"Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art.... It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things that give value to survival." ~C.S. Lewis