A Thankful Friend

I love my friends. I have been blessed with some incredible people that are a part of my life. Friendship is such a vital part of who we are. The relationship that comes from another person pouring into our life and helping us to get through all of the things that life throws our way is invaluable.


 I have had friendships that have lasted throughout my life and I have had friendships that didn't make it through the fire of misunderstanding or hurt. Sometimes those friendships dissolved because I was stubborn or immature and sometimes they dissolved from no fault of my own. But I am so thankful that we serve a God who is all about relationships. Not only does He seek out a relationship with us, but He blesses us with others who can encourage and uplift and exhort us.


I have a friend who is a neighbor. When I asked for suggestions about a good book to read, she didn't just answer me on facebook. She brought over a bag of books for me to borrow. I have a friend from college. I haven't seen her in 25 years. But she encourages me through technology. She affirms me and uplifts me and keeps me moving forward. In fact, she probably does not even know what a source of affirmation she is in my life. I have a friend who speaks truth to me even when I don't ask for it. She tells me like it is. I love her for that.


I have a friend who I don't ever talk to anymore. There were some uncomfortable conversations in the past that we just have not been able to move through yet. But God still uses her in my life. There are so many times that I hear her voice in my head reminding me of advice she gave me in the past. She may not be a daily part of my life, but she is a part of the person that I am.


I have friends that pray for me. And then they follow up. What a blessing it is to receive the text or the phone call asking me how God answered our prayer or what happened in the situation we were praying for. Those friends love me well.


I have young friends. I have older friends. My husband is my best friend. God has blessed me. And I am grateful. So my friends, whether I talked to you this morning or haven't talked to you in years, know how much you mean to me. What a gift your friendship is. I have learned so much from each of you and I am a stronger and better woman because of you.


Jesus is my friend too. It has taken me years to truly understand the reality of that truth. But He is my friend. I can sit at His feet and tell Him my thoughts. I have learned to rest in His presence and to listen to His voice. He knows everything about me, even the stuff that I haven't figured out yet. And He loves me anyway. What a privilege to know that He calls me friend, too.

What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear. 

What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer. 

O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,

 All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.

 ~ Joseph M. Scriven