I've been thinking a lot about friendships recently, and lo and behold, the sermon on Sunday was all about friendship. (Side note: I love how God works. Leading my heart with His Spirit and leading the congregation through His Word - it's amazing.) I've made some poor friend choices in the past. Not horrible. No drug users (that I knew of) or smokers or intense drinkers or anything crazy. I've just found that over the years, the people I'm drawn to aren't really friends but popular girls that I want to prove myself to. It's like I wanted them to like me so badly that I would set myself aside just to please them. And then I would find myself empty handed when I really needed a real friend.
A friend/coworker of mine and I were talking and she said that she really wanted to be friends with another coworker. She started listing reasons why she wanted to be friends, and it got me thinking...I don't think I've ever been able to articulate why I've wanted to be friends with somebody before.
The sermon on Sunday talked about characteristics of good and wise friends, which got me thinking even more about the friends that I currently have and the kind of friend that I want to be to others. Some key people in my life came to mind:
My friend Cynthe is a wise, Jesus-loving woman who is really good at consistantly seeking out different perspectives from others. She is brave and truthful and compassionate. I truly respect her as a fellow Jesus follower and mom and wife.
My friend Steph is incredibly compassionate and kind, always looking out for the best interest of others, even if it means putting herself last. She is cheerful, helpful, and a talented artist. Her sense of humor is great, and she never takes herself too seriously. I love that. And I love that she loves Jesus with her whole self.
My friend Carolyn is intelligent, quiet, and wise. Her compassion for others is evident in her day job as a teacher as well as her service to the ministries at her church. She follows Jesus with a diligent obedience that is admirable and humbling. She is truthful and trustworthy.
My friend Lydia is a newer friend. She has a contagious joy that seems to just radiate from her skin. She loves Jesus so much and loves to help others find Him too. She's organized and methodical and I really admire how she strives to continue growing in her faith on a daily basis.
My friend Rachel is spunky and easy going. She's my scientist friend who is both smart and kind. She loves Jesus and demonstrates that compassionate love by hosting every type of event under the sun. She is resilient and is living proof that God rescues those who seek Him. I respect how patient she is with obstacles and balancing life and family.
This isn't a very long list, and I'm sure I've left off people that I admire and respect. But to be honest, when it comes to good friends, I don't really have a lot. (Three of the five listed don't even live anywhere close to me, not that distance should be an issue. It would just be nice to be able to call somebody and go somewhere to meet her when I need a moment with a friend.) The women listed are friends who love Jesus. I have friends who I admire and respect and who don't know Jesus, but I listed the ones who do know and love Him because they share the same heart and direction in life.
Some underlying traits that I see with these amazing women is that they are all compassionate truth-tellers who long to be an authentic representation of Jesus on this earth. I respect that. The honesty and the compassion. And I really want to be a person who can offer that to somebody else as a friend. I haven't done the best job of being a friend to others, but I hope to do better.
