Friendship.
I am so blessed to have a variety of friends.
Growing up, my mom made sure that I was involved in various activities in church, clubs in school, hobbies, etc.. Within these various groups, I was able to forge meaningful friends and appreciated acquaintances. Acquaintances may be those who you associate with, but not necessarily are close to. Friends, for me, are those who I do life with. We celebrate life events together, comfort one another in times of trouble, confide in, support and encourage one another, keep each other accountable, laugh, cry, … And being the only girl with three older brothers, a friend is treated like a sister for me. I guess you could say that friends are family that God gave to me. True treasures.
This year, I have the joy of being a motivator at a middle school via a “club” called Mornings with Moms. We meet once a month, prior to school hours. The turnout has been wonderful. Boys and girls, along with their mom (or motherly figure) come to hopefully be encouraged by some GOoDlike conversation. In January, the topic was friendship. Why? Because they asked for it. Building friendships, especially in middle school, can be difficult and like a rollercoaster ride that can cause queasiness at times. I did stress the importance of a variety of friendships acquired through different involvements, along with being a moral compass.
Last night, two of my dear friends and I FINALLY got together to celebrate my December 11th birthday and Christmas. Spending quality time with my friends had me thinking back to the January Mornings with Moms gathering, and all my friendship groups.
I started looking through this past year’s photos. The saying from the movie Elf defined me while scrolling through the photos… “I just like to smile. Smiling’s my favorite.” My friends have celebrated life for sure and traveled the world with me too. I could have easily, so easily, included my family in the photos below, because they are my best of friends! But, I wanted to just tap into these girlfriends. I was comforted knowing that my family and friends get along so well, and how entangled our lives have often been.
Let me add that friendships change over the years. Some stay close for a lifetime, and some are with you for a season. Also, you’re never too old for new friendships. Over the past few months, I took up a new hobby, golf. Through this hobby, I have cultivated new friendships with ladies who not only share this hobby, yet love Jesus. We have bible study together and talk family, Jesus, and life. I’m grateful for old and new friends.
Here are just a few bible verses to encourage you to choose your friends wisely:
- …a sweet friendship refreshes the soul. Proverbs 27:9b
- So encourage each other and help each other grow stronger in faith, just as you are already doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11
- Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” 1 Corinthians 15:33
- Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Colossians 3:13
- Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
- Troublemakers are always causing problems. Their gossip breaks up the closest of friends. Proverbs 16:28
- Friends come and friends go, but a true friend sticks by you like family. Proverbs 18:24
- There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. John 15:13
- Do to others as you would like them to do to you. Luke 6:31
- Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:32
- I no longer call you servants, because servants don’t know what their master is doing. But now I call you friends, because I have told you everything that my Father told me. John 15:15
Y’all the Greatest Friend that you can have is Jesus Christ. He calls you friend when you become a Christ follower. Raise your hand if He is your Bestest of Best Friends. Me! My hand is raised high!
Choose your friends wisely. And remember…if you want a friend, you must be a friend.
Blessings to you and yours,
Stephanie
“What draws people to be friends is that they see the same truth. They share it.” ― C. S. Lewis
“A friend may be waiting behind a stranger’s face.” ― Maya Angelou
“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
“Make new friends, but keep the old; Those are silver, these are gold.” ― Joseph Parry
“I’ve kept most of my friends for decades, and I continue to make new friends.” ― John Grant
“There’s not a word yet for old friends who’ve just met.” ― Jim Henson
Life with friends this year…weddings, book signing, hockey games, festival nights, dinners out, shared hobbies, lots of love!
