Going Once, Twice, Sold to Steve

 

I started my professional career in a rural community and I didn’t know anyone when I moved there but I quickly formed a friendship with a man from my church.

Steve was born and raised in this community and at the time I met him he had just returned to start a business. He was well known and well liked and we worked together on several projects.

His business was on Main Street, directly across from my office and I frequently dropped in to visit when time allowed. For me, these visits were therapeutic.

I lived in this community for five-years until I took a new job in Salt Lake City. A couple of years later I had some business in this community. It was shortly before Christmas and that night my old church was having a fundraising auction as part of their festivities.

I arrived a little late and the auction had started. At that moment a handmade quilt was being auctioned. When Steve and I saw each other we made eye contact and he waved to me just as the auctioneer said, “two hundred. Who’ll bid $200.00?”

The auctioneer caught my friend’s wave and said, “Sold to Steve for $200.00”

I just laughed! Steve didn’t want the quilt.

Friendship is an important resiliency skill especially when it is based on common interests, camaraderie, and humor. Even though I thought it was funny we were both able to laugh and enjoy the moment. This was only one of many events that helped strengthen our bond of friendship.

As parents we should encourage our children to find friends with whom they can laugh and trust and know they will be safe being themselves. We can help them understand that their real friends will be there to provide help when life gets challenging and laugh when laughter is needed. Good friends can help parents raise good children.

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