My children have this great book titled “Fall is for Friends”. We purchased it one November as part of our collection of Thanksgiving books. Isn’t it funny how a child’s book can remind you to be thankful for something that we should never take for granted but often do.
Have you ever felt like people just don’t “get” you? Sometimes, I feel that way more often than not. But, I thank God for the people that do get "it" and me! If you are a Christian, you might have heard it termed "kindred spirit" or on Facebook as a BFF or Bestie. Regardless, these are people that somehow we are just able to connect with and share life with (and the harsh realities that often come with it!).
That is why the community of faith is so important. When we go through hard times (or even easy times), it can become easy or comfortable to isolate ourselves, tell half truths or only reveal part of ourselves because we don't want to disclose the reality of our lives. The older I get, the more I understand how difficult it is to make true friends. That is why I am so thankful for my old standbys. These are the friends who have gone through "the fire" with me, if you know what I mean. And, I am doubly thankful for the people I have met in recent years or who have recently become my friends. We are never too old to build relationships in our community of faith or welcome new people into our lives.
Friendship is not a passing fad. True friendship is hard to come by. It takes work and vulnerability on both sides of the fence. True friendship can never occur if only one person is willing. So, work hard at the things that are important. For instance, Facebook has been a great place to reconnect with a lot of acquaintances. But, the truth is, I never needed Facebook to keep up with those people who were truly my friends. (I must admit that I love being able to see my friends day to day lives on a more regular basis, instead of just thumbing through photos when we are together or using my imagination in long phone conversations.)
The nice thing about true friends is that they see beyond the surface. They hear past words to hear what you are really saying. They read what you write, but know the intent of your heart. They sense even when you are silent. And, true friends hold you accountable. They share their sorrows and their joys.
I have had two precious conversations with two of my best friends recently. During one conversation, I cried. I didn't cry out of sadness, but because someone "got me". They knew what made me tick, made me angry, made me smile and were able to listen and know my heart. The second was quick. We simply shared in the joy of God's blessing in her life. You see, that's the thing. With true friends, you share the junk and joy. And, if you share the junk, you must share the joy!
Sometimes in the hustle of life, it becomes easy to lose who you are. I am convinced that most discontent in our lives does not come out of our life situation, but in that we have allowed our life situations to alter who we are at the core. We trade grace for judgement. We trade joy for anger. We trade the true love of Christ for bitterness. We lose who we are and that is where the frustration with life comes from. True friends remind us of who we are and challenge us not to bargain with who we are. Proverbs 27:6 says, "Faithful are the wounds of a friend." Sounds funny, right? If you read verse 5, it tells us that an open rebuke is better than love concealed. So, it goes to say that sometimes it hurts when friends are honest, but in the end it is for the best.
In our society, we tend to expect/want the quick and easy. Nothing worth having is ever quick or easy or free. True friendship has a price. True friendship requires an infinite amount of work. And, when you grow up and move away, it can get expensive (long distance phone calls, packages, visits across country). True friendship is worth every dime, every sacrifice and more.
So, today, I challenge you to remember that “Fall is for Friends.” Call them up. Write down the reasons why you are thankful for them. Treat them as if you truly are thankful to have them in your life. Remember to share your joys as much as your sorrows. And most importantly, don’t let life get so busy that you unintentionally shut them out.
Today I am thankful for friends. Some people just don't get it...Do you?
Kelly Owens
My dear sweet friend,
ReplyDeleteI won't get personal here, but please know how deeply you've touched me tonight. Tears of joy and tears of junk - I totally get it!
I love you so much!
Colleen
Good 'stuff' sis! I won't soon forget -- share both the 'junk and the joy' -- good Word!
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