Woody and Buzz were not friends when they first met. They were enemies each fighting for the honor of being Andy's best friend. Everything they did was working toward that goal. They didn't trust each other nor did they like each other. In the end, they discovered that they needed each other as much as they needed Andy and these two toys from the Disney/Pixar film Toy Story, became the best of friends.
"Don't talk out of both sides of your mouth, avoid careless banter, white lies, and gossip." (Proverbs 4:24, The Message)
Being a friend, a real friend, is about being trustworthy; its about being true and honorable. If I'm one way with one set of "friends" and act another way with another set of "friends" then I am friends with neither. I'm trying hard to teach this to my children. It's common to get caught up in the gossip game, playing the relationship trading game. It's junior high behavior that for some people continues into adulthood. This doesn't benefit anyone, especially you. When you trade friends, talk trash, take sides, you'll find yourself alone.
Friends are important. They are persons who can be trusted, who can keep your secrets, who know the real you and love you anyway. Friends are the ones who stand with you when no one else will, they are the ones who don't leave you alone when you want to be left alone. Friends are the ones who say things to you that hurt, because they are the truth. Having real friends is important. Being a real friend even more so.
One of the things I've discovered is that those who have these kinds of friends are these kinds of friends. If you can name at least one real friend then that means someone will be naming you as one of theirs. That's important. Having these kinds of friends means that we have to be one, too.
If you've ever experienced this kind of friendship then you know what I'm talking about. You can't wait to share your life with them, your joys, your sorrows and they with you. It is in this sharing that we grow in our relationship but it doesn't come easy. It takes time to develop the trust that is necessary to share openly. If we want to develop friends, we have to develop as a friend.
It's the kind of friend Jesus is to us. It's the kind of friend we are supposed to be.
I have many of these kinds of friends, but it wasn't always that way. I haven't always been trusted or trustworthy. I've learned. I've grown. I've found what real friendship is and means in my relationship with my wife and with my Lord, Jesus. And I've become a friend. I'm blessed these days because of that.
Want to find a friend...be one.
"You've got a friend in me."
Peace ><>
PC
2 comments:
And a friend's a friend forever,if the Lord's the Lord of Him; so the song goes.
Commit and honor the relationship of "friend".
Christian Friends = Love & Support
I have some very wonderful trusting friends and know that I can always talk to them and know that they will tell me the truth. There are times when we thought we had a friend, but found out differently. There are sometimes people in certain areas of churches that you thought was a friend but found out differently. We must always be very cautious and go to Jesus who is alwaysour friend.
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