--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What is so rewarding about friendship?”…" description: "\"“What is so rewarding about friendship?” my son asked, curling his upper lip into a sour expression. “Making friends takes too much time and effort, an..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/469/richelle-e-goodrich-180_friend_what-is-so-rewarding-about-friendship-my_2700886.jpg" --- # What is so rewarding about friendship?” my son asked… ![“What is so rewarding about friendship?” my son asked, curling his upper lip into a sour expression. “Making friends takes too much time and effort, and for what?” I sat on the edge of his bed, understanding how it might seem simpler to go at life solo. “Friendship has unique rewards,” I told him…” quote by Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/469/richelle-e-goodrich-180_friend_what-is-so-rewarding-about-friendship-my_2700886.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/469/richelle-e-goodrich-180_friend_what-is-so-rewarding-about-friendship-my_2700886.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/469/richelle-e-goodrich-180_friend_what-is-so-rewarding-about-friendship-my_2700886.jpg) > ““What is so rewarding about friendship?” my son asked, curling his upper lip into a sour expression. “Making friends takes too much time and effort, and for what?” I sat on the edge of his bed, understanding how it might seem simpler to go at life solo. “Friendship has unique rewards,” I told him. “They can be unpredictable. For instance…” I couldn’t help but pause to smile crookedly at an old memory that was dear to my heart. Then I shared with my son an unforgettable incident from my younger years. “True story. When I was about your age, I decided to try out for a school play. Tryouts were to begin after the last class of the day, but first I had to run home to grab a couple props for the monologue I planned to perform during tryouts. Silly me, I had left them at the house that morning. Luckily, I only lived across a long expanse of grassy field that separated the school from the nearest neighborhood. Unluckily, it was raining and I didn’t have an umbrella. “Determined to get what I needed, I raced home, grabbed my props, and tore back across the field while my friend waited under the dry protection of the school’s wooden eaves. She watched me run in the rain, gesturing for me to go faster while calling out to hurry up or we would be late. “The rain was pouring by that time which was added reason for me to move fast. I didn’t want to look like a wet rat on stage in front of dozens of fellow students. Don’t ask me why I didn’t grab an umbrella from home—teenage pride or lack of focus, I’m not sure—but the increasing rain combined with the hollering from my friend as well as my anxious nerves about trying out for the play had me running far too fast in shoes that lacked any tread. “About a yard from the sidewalk where the grass was worn from foot traffic and consequently muddied from the downpour of rain, I slipped and fell on my hind end. Me, my props, and my dignity slid through the mud and lay there, coated. My things were dripping with mud. I was covered in it. I felt my heart plunge, and I wanted to cry. I probably would have if it hadn’t been for the wonderful thing that happened right then. My crazy friend ran over and plopped herself down in the mud beside me. She wiggled in it, making herself as much a mess as I was. Then she took my slimy hand in hers and pulled us both to our feet. We tried out for the play looking like a couple of swine escaped from a pigsty, laughing the whole time. I never did cry, thanks to my friend. “So yes, my dear son, friendship has its unique rewards—priceless ones.”” [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Friendship offers unpredictable, heartfelt rewards that outweigh the effort needed to build it, as illustrated by a personal story of perseverance and support. **In simple terms:** Friendship gives unexpected joy despite the work involved. Key Takeaway Value and nurture friendships. Themes relationships growth resilience Mood reflective warm inspirational Type advice storytelling personal. When to use this quote - school activities - family bonding - peer encouragement - overcoming setbacks Key Concepts social support personal narrative empathy Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance personal effort with the benefits of friendship? - What moments have shown you the hidden value of a friend? A Different Perspective Friendship may still require time and vulnerability, and not all friendships are equally supportive. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friend/) [Friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friends/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Friendship quotes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship-quotes/) [Making friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/making-friends/) [Richelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/richelle/) [Richelle-e-goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/richelle-e-goodrich/) [Richelle-goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/richelle-goodrich/) [Time And Effort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-and-effort/) [True friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-friendship/) [True story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-story/) ## Related quotes > [“Aletta.” “I need to apologize to you, Jake. 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Goodrich quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) ## More Friend quotes > [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [I gave my archive to Emory University because there's a really dear friend who teaches there, Rudolph Byrd, and he's the editor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/i-gave-my-archive-to-emory-university-because-there-s-a-really-dear/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [Friends are like stars you can't always see them, but you know they're there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unknwon/friends-are-like-stars-you-can-t-always-see-them-but-you-know-they-re/) Unknwon > [“But my best friend from college was silent for a long time. 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For instance…” I couldn’t help but pause to smile crookedly at an old memory that was dear to my heart. Then I shared with my son an unforgettable incident from my younger years. “True story. When I was about your age, I decided to try out for a school play. Tryouts were to begin after the last class of the day, but first I had to run home to grab a couple props for the monologue I planned to perform during tryouts. Silly me, I had left them at the house that morning. Luckily, I only lived across a long expanse of grassy field that separated the school from the nearest neighborhood. Unluckily, it was raining and I didn’t have an umbrella. “Determined to get what I needed, I raced home, grabbed my props, and tore back across the field while my friend waited under the dry protection of the school’s wooden eaves. She watched me run in the rain, gesturing for me to go faster while calling out to hurry up or we would be late. “The rain was pouring by that time which was added reason for me to move fast. I didn’t want to look like a wet rat on stage in front of dozens of fellow students. Don’t ask me why I didn’t grab an umbrella from home—teenage pride or lack of focus, I’m not sure—but the increasing rain combined with the hollering from my friend as well as my anxious nerves about trying out for the play had me running far too fast in shoes that lacked any tread. “About a yard from the sidewalk where the grass was worn from foot traffic and consequently muddied from the downpour of rain, I slipped and fell on my hind end. Me, my props, and my dignity slid through the mud and lay there, coated. My things were dripping with mud. I was covered in it. I felt my heart plunge, and I wanted to cry. I probably would have if it hadn’t been for the wonderful thing that happened right then. My crazy friend ran over and plopped herself down in the mud beside me. She wiggled in it, making herself as much a mess as I was. Then she took my slimy hand in hers and pulled us both to our feet. We tried out for the play looking like a couple of swine escaped from a pigsty, laughing the whole time. I never did cry, thanks to my friend. “So yes, my dear son, friendship has its unique rewards—priceless ones.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richelle E. Goodrich" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/what-is-so-rewarding-about-friendship-my-son-asked-curling-his-upper/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Friend" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/what-is-so-rewarding-about-friendship-my-son-asked-curling-his-upper/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/469/richelle-e-goodrich-180_friend_what-is-so-rewarding-about-friendship-my_2700886.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/469/richelle-e-goodrich-180_friend_what-is-so-rewarding-about-friendship-my_2700886.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/469/richelle-e-goodrich-180_friend_what-is-so-rewarding-about-friendship-my_2700886.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What is so rewarding about friendship?” my son asked, curling his upper lip into a sour expression. “Making…” — Richelle E. 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