One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Proverbs 18:24
There are few things in life more valuable and sustaining than a good friend.
“Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: “What!” You Too? I thought I was the only one.” C.S Lewis
I like this too.
As long as there is a post and the telephone is not cut off, so long as we have things to tell and joys and anxieties to share – we will be friends. Marion C. Garretty
I’m so thankful I can say I’ve been truly blessed with amazing friends and lately I’ve been reminded of it again.
Some friends are the “for life” kind that say with actions and with words “Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay” (Ruth 1:1-6) Those ones are stuck with me for good. Some are friends for just a season – the value of the friendship not lessened by the length of time or the changes in circumstances that take you apart. Friendships aren’t defined or diminished by those sort of things.
What would we do with out them. Where would we be. And it’s when your in a little bit of a pickle – or a big one – that you really notice it the most – that you most appreciate how good and true those friends are. Friends generous in their time and their conversation and their giving. So much so that you think you don’t deserve it, that your tempted to refuse because it’s much more than most would do and more than we think we are worth.
But in the end that’s what seals the deal between you and these kind of friends show us Jesus.
We don’t deserve His love either and we certainly don’t deserve His favour. Yet Jesus has given both to us anyway. Unconditionally. In fact He pours it out on us. And as much as we would like to, we can’t earn it and we can’t pay Him back – it’s different to how the world works – in the end we have to accept it, accept it as God’s gift. Faithful friends remind us of that. That we are loved and accepted at our best and at our worst and everywhere in between.
At our worst – friends stay – Jesus too.
And they go further. I love this bible story where a group of friends carry their companion on his bed to be healed by Jesus and not being able to get through the crowd they climb up on the roof top and lower him down that way – right into Jesus’ presence. (Luke 5:17-19) That was some ingenious thinking. Friends do that – they do that bit or that whole lot more, they don’t think about what’s a reasonable length to go, they just go further.
I’ve noticed this too – love will compel us to do more than we would normally do – thank God – but God’s wisdom will also guide us in it. We can’t fix each other – only God can do the real work of healing in our lives, of making us whole and healthy, He’s the source – the Living water – but our friends – you and I – we help get each other there. We ease the way and line the path, we carry each other when needs be, we help each other back up. And isn’t everything more fun when you have a few friends to share it with.
Lets not underplay the value of good old fashioned friendship and lets not underestimate how many women in our very own communities – yes even with Facebook – are dying for a good and loyal friend to walk beside them – some who have never seen how true friendship works. Some battered and bruised by bullying “friends” who take more than they give, who expose and point the finger. We know God has a better way – friendship that serves and protects and inspires. We can do that. Us girls are designed for it.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12: 30-31
If being a friend is the all you have to give today – – you’re giving Jesus. Not a drop in the ocean – a safe harbour, a sheltering tree, a soft place to rest a while. It’s no small thing. It’s God’s work.
“Make new friends and keep the old. Some are silver and the other is gold. A circle is round…it has no end. That’s how long I want to be your friend ~ Girl Scout Song
Have a beautiful day
Lv Tracey xx
Save the Date ~ Saturday 25th July
Our Winter Warm Up event is on Saturday the 25th July at 1pm. Forget the prep, the cooking and the clean up – we are doing lunch out. Venue to be advised.