Thankful Hearts: Relationships (Friendship)
Wednesday, October 31
Thankful Hearts: Relationships
Today, I am thankful for … FRIENDSHIP.
"Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of a friend springs from their heartfelt advice." Proverbs 27:9
Today, we have the opportunity to stop and be grateful for friendships. Going along with what Merrilynn Stockton said yesterday, our community of believing friends are irreplaceable! Take a few minutes and allow some faces, past and present, to come to your mind. Are you smiling at the thought of these sweet people in your life? I am!
Here are a few of my favorite things about friends:
1. Friends laugh with you. Think about a time when you just belly-laughed with your bestie. Don't you love it when your friend inexplicably "gets you"? I just got back from a weekend trip to Greenville, SC with my LIFELONG friend, who happens to be my little sis, Peggy Lively. The two of us can quickly laugh about anything, and also...nothing! When one of us says something a little quirky, that's all we need to get the laughter going and going and going. Proverbs 17:22 says, "A joyful heart is good medicine" and I believe it! Friends help share the joy!
2. Friends cry with you. I'm sure we can all recall a time when we have had a major meltdown, crying from a real and raw place of sadness and sorrow. Think of your friend or friends that were right there surrounding you with love and support. Just like it's good to have the happy times together, it's also good and healing to let friends into this hard place. Peggy and I, no doubt, alongside of the laughter, have shared many heartfelt tears together. Life is just plain hard. As teenagers we used to walk side-by-side and share stories about high school dramas and crushes on boys. Now, we walk many many miles and pray together, sharing our different trials that have caused our hearts to break in some form or fashion. Sometimes we just let the tears flow, and embrace this deep connection. While on our trip this past weekend, we were listening to a worship song on Sunday morning at my daughter and son-in-law's church, and our weepy eyes locked in love for one another. Our tears spoke without words, "You are not alone." Friends help bear the burden.
3. Friends encourage you. Do you have somebody in your life that breathes wind into your sails? Somebody that listens because they sincerely care? Somebody that prays for you and your family and vice-versa? I cherish this kind of friend. I'm sure you will agree with me that they are a true gift. Friends help guide the path.
Today, journal a prayer of thanksgiving to God about these sweet people that have come to mind, and then let each of them know in some way how grateful you are for their friendship.
For further reading: 1 Samuel 18:3, 23:16; 1 Thessalonians 5:11
Dear Lord,
We are not meant to walk this life alone! Thank You for the divine connections You have put in our lives. Give us grateful hearts for the friends You have provided over our lifetime. And God, I ask You to remind us to be a friend to those who need someone to laugh with and cry with. Open our eyes and show each one of us who to encourage today. Birth a new friendship even now. Show us how, dear Jesus, because You are the greatest Friend, the One "that sticks closer than a brother" (Proverbs 18:24). I pray this in Your faithful Name. Amen
