Tonight I was talking with a friend who I hadn't seen or spent time with in quite a while. We met at youth group and that was really the only Ike we saw each other, so when she couldn't come for several monthes, we sort of lost touch. In tonight's conversation she said how glad she was to be coming back this weekend after so long, how much she'd missed her "second family". She was excited to not only reconnect with our group, but to introduce her boyfriend to us, who she said will fit in perfectly.
This talk reminded me of another that I had at school this week, when a friend from both school and church came to lunch and we briefly discussed our youth group. A girl at the table remarked on how much drama there is in the group and how deeply involved we are in each others lives and how strange it seemed to her. It's a discussion we'd had a few times when I would mention some altercation or frustrating situation with one of the kids in the group. I thought about it more at length tonight and decided that my friend is right, we are very involved, and there is quite a lot of drama when it comes to the youth group.
But is that all that bad?
We are very active in each others lives. Every week after youth group, John and I have a talk about my romantic issues of the week and whatever is going on with his current girlfriend. Tyler frequently calls me when he knows I'm having a particularly hard week or if something frustrating is going on in his life. I'm a big sister for most of the boys in the group, teasing them about girls, encouraging them to make good choices, scoping out their new girlfriends, listening when they have fights with siblings or parents. Taylor and I have scores of ongoing jokes and pranks when it comes to beating the guys at whatever game we play. I've always had more trouble connecting with girls than guys, so all the easy, fun, loving relationships I have with the girls has been a huge blessing. Especially the younger girls, who go out of their way to encourage me and anyone else who walks through the door.
And drama? Yes, we have more than enough. But it stems from the deep relationships we have. We're all so protective of each other, and when one is wronged, the whole group responds one way or another. And being highschoolers, we have plenty of romantics entanglements, but thankfully they hardly ever result in either the guy or girl leaving the group when it's over. Also, being highschoolers, we have lots of kids with lots of opinions, passions, and convictions. There is never a lack of debate and discussion, and there are days it causes some strife. But in the end, things are always resolved.
We share everything with each other so we can help and encourage one another. We often butt heads. We watch each others backs. We form a support system that can not be broken. We're crazy and opinionated and ridiculous. We're also broken, scarred, but healing people. We bicker, we quarrel, but more than anything else, we love.
They're my second family.
*Note: this isn't saying that all groups should function this way or even that we're completely different, but only that we are well suited for each other and I appreciate them all so much*
