Friendship

What is a friend? Is it the guy/girl you hang with at school or eat lunch with? Could it be the person you share your craziest thoughts and secrets with? Or is it the one person who after having the worst day of your life you automatically call…that someone you know will be there for you anytime day or night to sit by your side and hold your hand?

I’ve always found it amazing that during different times in my life I could call a friend that I hadn’t spoken to in a while and we’d instantly pick up where we left off without feeling awkward. What about those days when all you want to do is cry and the phone rings…or you get a text…or a card arrives in the mail when you least expect it. It’s like your bff has some sort of crazy sixth sense and can tell when you need him/her the most.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!

My kids have opposing views on friendship. One believes it’s important to have as many friends as possible (even though only 2 or 3 of them are “best friends”) and the other believes 1 is more than enough for several reasons. My daughter is about to enter middle school and many times she’s upset over the way the girls at school treat her and each other. Her best friend is like her in many ways, yet also completely opposite. They have plenty of drama but manage to work through it although it doesn’t make it hurt any less as they deal with their differences.

I think we mistakenly believe that when we get older those “differences” we faced when we were young magically disappear. Unfortunately we still live in an imperfect world where resentment, anger, greed and pride exist. We may believe we’re doing all we can to make our relationships the best they can be and yet they still fail. I’ve heard people say friends are like seasons and they come into our lives when we need them most and disappear when we’ve made it through the “storm”.

This philosophy makes me sad although I’ve lived through this scenario more than once in my own life. The beautiful thing is that when things in this world get too difficult we have a “bff” who will always be with us. He won’t abandon us and is never too busy to “talk”. I’m the first to admit I need to work on my friendship with my Lord and Savior. I can’t imagine a better investment of my time yet I put it off and let much less important tasks take priority. He’s already given me all I could ever ask for and knows all of my deepest secrets. He won’t let me down when I fall short and there’s nothing I can do or say that will make him love me less. If only we could accept and treat our friends in this same way…

John 15:12-13 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

Tagged as: bff, Friend, Friendship, Jesus, Relationships