“A good man leaves an inheritance for his children’s children.” Prov. 13:22

When our girls graduated from high school, Michael W. Smith’s song “Friends” was very popular and sung at just about every graduation around the country I think. You may remember the lyrics:

That was long before cell phone and texting technology or Facebook. It was a time when friendships were still about face-to-face life relationships. Today more and more children, teens and adults are building “relationships” through cell phone or social network communication. You may have hundreds, or even thousands, of “friends” on Facebook or some other social network site. But are they really friends? They are more like, as someone once said, pseudo-friendships “a mile wide, but only an inch deep”.

There are many good things about social networking and modern technology, but as grandparents, we have a responsibility to help our grandchildren understand what true friendship is and that it is not defined by impersonal cyberspace communications. Real friendships have always been and always will be defined by personal face-to-face relationships walk with one another, talk with one another, observe one another and share life with one another. Having hundreds of so-called “friends” on Facebook is not the same as having a real friend.

We need to show our grandchildren what true friendship means and looks like. In Jim Stovall’s story, The Ultimate Gift, Red Stevens helped his great-nephew, Jason, learn that nothing “will bring more quality to your existence than growing to understand and nurture friendship.” Perhaps we should be more intentional about challenging our grandchildren to learn this truth as well.

Tell your own stories about those friendships that have impacted you. Encourage dialogue by using questions about friendship and what makes a good friend. And don’t forget share about the greatest friend of all–our Lord Jesus Christ who laid down His life for us. That is a friendship we must not fail to cultivate or hold up as an example.

GRANDPAUSE: “A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out.” -unknown