I can remember it clearly. The square record from the McDonalds happy meal. It was so thin that it barely stayed on my Fisher-price record player. I can see it awkwardly revolving round and round.

And that song. “Friend, F-R-I-E-N-D. Just wait and see. We’re going to be friends.”

I believed Ronald. I just knew he and I were going to be friends. This is no small feat mind you. I cannot stand clowns. So it took quite a bit of self-denial and definition change (I decided he is not actually a clown) to imagine a friendship between me, a young boy in Florida and the king of Fast-food and Toyotathons (What you didn’t know?).

I had to grow up (sadly). And friendship became more difficult and rarely came with a song. I am learning more about how to be a friend just about every day. I read a familiar passage from the Bible the other day, I paused when I came to this part:

“Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13

I always took it for granted that this is Jesus talking about his impending death. I think it is. I also think it is about something else. Is the only way I can show love to someone by jumping in front of a bus to save them or taking a bullet or them?

I don’t think so. I think I am supposed to give a little bit of my life for my friends each and every day. Notice Jesus says there is no greater love than laying down our lives. I don’t think that means we have to die for them in one moment. Just maybe, it means we die for them all the time.

I think we do this by putting their needs ahead of our own. I think we can do this by thinking they are much more important than ourselves.

At least, this is what I am going to try to do.