Dear Friends,

I have been thinking a lot about Friendship lately.  More and more I see the value of friendship…or…the lack thereof. Recently I received a card from a friend that said,

“I believe in friends & the healing that comes from laughter, tears, and stories shared.  I believe in wisdom that can be found in having fun and in the bonds that are formed out of trust and honesty.  I believe in the strength of one hand holding another through times of trouble and in the miracles of perfectly timed hugs and smiles.  I believe in friendship and am thankful you are my friend.”

I believe that friendship is all of those things but I believe true friendship goes even beyond that.  I believe true friendship involves action:  doing something for someone else while expecting nothing in return; sharing thoughts & feelings without fear of judgment or negative criticism. I believe true friendship involves relationship. Many people say, "Oh, he's a good friend of mine," yet they never take time to spend time with that "good friend." Friendship takes time: time to get to know each other, time to build shared memories, time to invest in each other's growth.  I believe trust is essential to true friendship. We all need someone with whom we can share our lives, thoughts, feelings, frustrations, deepest secrets.  I believe that faithfulness and loyalty are key to true friendship.  I believe real friends encourage one another & forgive one another where there has been an offense. Genuine friendship supports during times of struggle.  I believe true friends are dependable. In true friendship, unconditional love develops. We love our friends no matter what & we always want the best for our friends. 

True friendship stories are found throughout the Bible. Genuine friendship, also called "agape" love, comes from the Lord. The Lord Jesus calls us His friends and He laid down His life for us (John 15).  God's Word tells us that a friend sticks closer than a brother, & that in order for one to be a friend, one must show themselves friendly (Proverbs 18:24). There is no greater example than the love of God for us. He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, in order that our friendship with God might be restored.  I believe the friend who sent me that card is my true friend.  Not all of us are fortunate to have a true friend in our lives.  Do you need a friend?  God wants to be your true friend.  Are you longing for companionship?  God is always with you (Hebrews 13:5).  Who do you know that needs a true friend today?  God wants you to befriend others.  He calls us to be His hands and feet in a world starving for true friendship.