Why Friendships Matter

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

Though our family usually makes a summer bucket list and fills it with experiences and adventures, in the wake of months of isolation, we were hungry for deepened relationships.

So we decided to do something new. We prioritized inviting others into our home and dubbed it the “Summer of Friends.” We included old friends and new acquaintances, families and couples. We hosted neighbors for bonfires and friends for dinner. We went to fewer places but saw more people, and it was glorious.

As we gathered around tables and campfires, living rooms and porches, I realized how much I’d missed those moments of connection. How much they mattered.

There’s a fascinating study in which participants were asked to climb a hill. The ones who climbed it alone judged it to be steeper than those who were accompanied by a friend. Interestingly, the longer a pair had been friends, the less severe the incline appeared.^a In the same way, when we have friends who support us and walk through the highs and lows of life alongside us, the obstacles we face feel more manageable.

We’re not meant to walk through this life alone. In the book of Acts, the author details how the early church prioritized gathering together. As a result of their generosity toward one another and the way they met together consistently, the church grew. Although our twenty-first-century society doesn’t quite resemble our first-century counterparts, the value of community is unchanging. When we gather together, we’re more likely to focus on others than ourselves. Our problems will seem smaller, and our ability to handle challenges will seem easier to manage. Rather than stewing in worry, we’ll grow in grace and contentment.

Let’s celebrate the joy of being in community with one another. When we do, we’ll see friendship with others as a precious gift to cultivate—an essential part of life—rather than one more item to check off our to-do list.

Kristin

Today’s Act of Gratitude

Make time for a friend in your schedule.