You Are Called Friend

We all are familiar with the sayings "A friend sticks closer than a brother", and "a friend loves at all times", but what is a friend, really? Friends are not always friends for life. Through the seasons of our lives, friends may change. Some may be closer than others, some may truly understand you, and some may just be there for you when the times are tough, or to celebrate the joys. For me, the meaning of friend has really changed throughout my life this far. The early elementary years, were filled with bittersweet memories. There were many kids in our neighborhood, but I seemed to be the odd one out, or the one that was picked on, and then later invited over when no one else was around. Then we move on to junior high, and again, with girls especially, two is company, but three is a crowd. I just never knew what to expect each and every day. Would I be the friend, or not? But I really did have at least one good friend at a time during these phases in my life. Someone that I shared the changing of season with. Time moved on, and throughout high school and beyond, things got rough with my eating disorder, but friends were still plentiful, and very supportive......those that really cared to help you along. Friendship does not always end well....people change, move, or just plain disappoint you, and then we once again seek that bond with another again. Life seems to get a little more complicated into adulthood, with families and jobs, making finding that deep friendship with another a little harder to come by.

Why does friendship seem to be such an important thing for most of us? When God created us, He meant for us to fellowship with one another, and bear one another's burdens. After Adam was created, God said that it was not good for him to be alone, so He created Eve. Remember David and Jonathan, or the sisters Mary and Martha, and Paul and all 12 of the disciples. Plenty of places in scripture friendship is demonstrated on almost a necessary level. That is why we were all created so uniquely...to become the body of Christ that we were meant to be. To minister to one another, and the rest of the world.

Getting back to "what is a friend?". Generally we think of friend in the terms of: one who is there no matter what; who listen without judgement; someone who tells us the truth, not just what we want to hear; encourages us when we are down; someone who shares a lot of laughter with us, and cries with us when the need arises; someone who just truly values the who in you. On the flip side, friends are able to disappoint, or judge, or even just walk away, and then what? While earthly friendship is of great value, we are so blessed to have a friendship that is everlasting. One that will not judge, even when our flawed characteristics shine through. "O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise;you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down;you are familiar with all my ways." Psalm 139:1-3 God know all about us, and guess what?!? He calls us friend! There is no greater friendship that I can think of than one with the perfect God, who knows all about me, and desires nothing less than the best for me. He is not jealous, easily angered, or changing. He is constant, ever present, my comfort, and my redeemer. The list is endless. This is by far the most valuable friendship that one could ask for.

Knowing that we have a never ending friendship with the one true God, let us not forget to cultivate that relationship, by spending time with our Friend and Maker, Jesus Christ.

"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. .....I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you......"John 15:13-16