One time I asked my five-year-old niece if I could get a glass of water when I was at her house, and she said, “I don’t know. I ain’t yo mama.”

I’m from Arkansas.

I’m considering giving you more context, but I suppose that will suffice.

That phrase has stuck with me for a long time, like another one that goes “I’m not my brother’s keeper” or maybe even “you do you.”

Coming from a five-year-old, something like that is adorable.

Coming from the world? It’s a bit unseemly.

It’s a reminder to me, however, of two things:

1. We’re built for community for “it’s not good for man to be alone.”
2. And also, the directive “let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.”

What a concept I’ve been learning, to dig in intentionally with others and live out the Word, not just read it (however, sometimes, painful that may be).

Because, no, I ain’t yo mama.

But, alas, I am your friend.