Back in the day I missed my friends on Christmas Break. I loved a break from school. Loved getting to visit my mom and family that I didn’t live with full time. But a few days into the break I’d start missing my high school friends. Kinda felt like I wasn’t my whole self without ‘em. No cell phones or social media back then, so between school and sports we’d basically go from spending all day every day together to zero contact over Christmas break. Ouch. What was I gonna do call my friends on the phone that was attached to the wall 😆 5 days into Christmas break and say “Hey you guys, I miss you 🤗” 😳 NO SHOT! 😅 Maybe times are different but we just didn’t say stuff like that. Heck, I’m dealing with delayed embarrassment writing any of this down as an old guy 👴🏻😂.
I wouldn’t have to wait for school to start back to see friends. We’d all end up at the same place. Either at a school sport event or at somebody’s house, a gas station parking lot, something. No real sentiments would be shared. I don’t think we hugged back then. We’d just be together, probably wearing something new we’d got for Christmas, swapping stories, insulting each other, plotting, planning, catching up. For me it was like becoming my self again. They were like family to me, more important than I realized. They gave me a taste of what I feel and enjoy now when I’m with my big’ol giant family.
Friends. Special people in our lives, especially when we’re young. Part of who we are today is because of friends we had back then.
Idk, it may have just been me or my circumstances but it seems like that kinda friendship among kids has become kinda rare. Maybe partly because of social media and almost constant contact they don’t ever get to miss each other. Not missing can kinda make you take it for granted. I did a lot of that taking for granted too.
I later learned the relationship I needed for wholeness was with Jesus. Also learned Jesus made me for relationships with others. Through him, I can need people less and actually love them more. Be a better friend. Admit I miss them. Tell them I love them. Hug. Not take them for granted. Not as much anyway. I’m still learning.