I would not say that my relationships are becoming shallow; if

When Lucy Dacus speaks, “I would not say that my relationships are becoming shallow; if anything, some of them are really being tested in a way that I’m so thankful for my friends that call me and still want to talk,” she unveils a truth about the bonds that hold human beings together. She acknowledges that life, with all its storms and distractions, often challenges the depth of our connections. Yet in those very challenges, she discovers not weakness, but resilience, and she offers gratitude to those who prove steadfast.

The essence of her reflection lies in the testing of bonds. Many speak of friendship and loyalty when the skies are clear, but true measure comes when burdens are heavy, when silence tempts, and when distance grows. In such times, shallow ties dissolve, while deeper ones reveal their hidden strength. Dacus recognizes this—what might appear as strain is in fact refinement, like gold in the fire, proving which relationships are enduring.

History itself bears witness to this truth. Consider Cicero, who wrote that friendship is not about utility but about the soul, and whose closest ties endured even through political chaos and personal exile. Or recall Anne Frank, who, trapped in hiding, clung to the bonds of letters and the memory of companionship to sustain her spirit. Their stories remind us that when relationships are tested, those who remain are the truest treasures of life.

Lucy’s thankfulness shines as a counter to despair. Instead of lamenting distance or difficulty, she chooses to honor the persistence of her friends. The ones who call, who still wish to speak, are rays of light piercing through the clouds. In this gratitude lies wisdom: it is not the multitude of acquaintances that nourishes the soul, but the few who remain faithful when the road is steep.

There is also humility in her recognition. She does not demand loyalty as a right, nor does she take it for granted. She knows that life pulls people in many directions, and that to be remembered, to be reached out to, is a gift. Her thankfulness reminds us that love and friendship, though freely given, are never owed—they are acts of grace that must be cherished.

The deeper meaning here is that hardship serves as a great revealer. Where once we may have wondered about the depth of our connections, in the season of trial we see clearly who is bound to us in truth. And rather than mourning those who fall away, we are called to celebrate the few who remain. In them lies the foundation of our strength and the enduring reminder that we are not alone.

So I say to you, children of tomorrow: do not fear when your relationships are tested, for it is through testing that truth is revealed. Be thankful for the friends who remain, who call, who speak when silence would be easier. Nurture them, honor them, and let them know their place in your heart. For in this fleeting world, where many ties prove shallow, those who endure are not just companions—they are life’s greatest blessing.