Any good psychologist will tell you that friendships are vital for wellbeing and even God says in Genesis it is not good for a 'person' to be alone. So what makes a good friendship?
William Arthur Ward writes “A true friend knows your weaknesses but shows you your strengths; feels your fears but fortifies your faith; sees your anxieties but frees your spirit; recognizes your disabilities but emphasizes your possibilities.”
So I ask myself "Am I a true friend?" Am I even a good friend? Do I encourage, fortify, bring vision? I have always believed that if you want friends you have to be a friend and that often means making the first move, being the first to smile say hello and ask to spend time together.
There are times when our friendships are tested. These tests that come either fortify the relationship or tear it apart. I think the difference is our heart. If we truly believe in our friendship, we weather the storms and become stronger and closer, we choose to forgive, we choose to turn the other cheek, we put aside jealousy.
I saw this posted on a friends facebook page. It challenged me.
I challenge myself to honour my friends, to assume they are doing their best, to put myself in their shoes, to stop criticizing and expecting more than they can give, to accept who they are and love them like family and to help build them up and to recognize and celebrate their giftings.
"You use steel to sharpen steel and one friend sharpens another."
Let us not fall into a trap of self pity when we feel lonely or alone. Lets remember the great friendships that we have or take the opportunity to cultivate new ones. Relationships take work so start working on them today.
Have a blessed day.
