On the other hand, this children's church experience made me reflect on one of my gold friends, my role model named Grady. Grady was an older man who I knew from my home church First Christian Church of McKinney and who passed away about a year ago. Grady was one of the kindest and most caring people I have ever known. Making people feel welcome and included was what he did best every Sunday morning. He served as a "door man" and greeter for the church, but did much more than handing out bulletins and counting the attendance in worship. He made you laugh by telling jokes, remembered special things about you, and would make small talk about his love for high school sports. Grady is a friend I do not ever want to forget.

I have felt very welcomed and included here at Saint Andrew because of the new friendships I have formed that are like the friendship I had between myself and Grady. So now, more than ever I am going to try to make new friends but keep the old.