Today, I'm thankful for the beautiful treasure of friendship and am reminded afresh that we must never take this priceless gift from God for granted.
Last night a group of us had the opportunity to celebrate six decades (and counting!) of life of one of our very dear friends, Joan. What an evening--laughing and talking together, hearing wonderful (and hilarious) stories about Joan, sharing how much her friendship means to all of us, not to mention savoring delicious food together--it doesn't get much better than that! Joan is, to put it simply, a remarkable friend--and so much of friendship consists of continually showing up. Of being there. Of being willing to be vulnerable. Of laughing and crying together so that our joys are multiplied and our sorrows are divided. Friendship maximizes the happiness to be celebrated and diminishes the pain of sorrow and disappointment.
C.S. Lewis once wrote, "Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art, like the universe itself… It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things which give value to survival." Oh my, the incalculable value that friendship adds to our lives! Thank You, Father, for this sweetest of treasures.
God's Word puts it this way: "My command is this: Love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends." (John 15:12-13) That's the mark of believers--how well we love one another. We were never intended to be lone ranger Christians but to live and love in community.
"And let us consider how to stir up one another in love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." (Heb.10:24-25)
Oh my, how we all need this! Aren't you thankful for friends who have stirred up the sometimes weary, weak embers of love in your heart? Aren't you thankful for friends who encourage you not to give up or give in but to keep running the race of faith? Aren't you thankful for the joy of encouraging others in the midst of the challenging or confusing parts of their race? Aren't you thankful that we have one another to pick each other up when one or the other of us is flagging? Aren't you thankful for the priceless gift of a friend constantly pointing you back to Christ? In the midst of our selfie-obsessed, FOMO, look out for number one world, aren't you thankful for the priceless gift of friends who constantly point you back to Christ? And aren't you thankful for the simple but life-changing by-product that accompanies friendship--laughter?
So today, let's choose to remember and savor God's gift of friendship. Don't allow busyness or laziness or distractedness or pettiness or unforgiveness cause you to neglect this priceless treasure. Instead, ask the Lord to help you to make it a priority to daily appreciate, nurture, and encourage your friends. Make the phone call. Write the note. Plan the outing. Celebrate the small victories. Grieve the losses. Forgive...laugh...pray...share...and point one another to the Savior who is our perfect and eternal and forever faithful Friend.
Thank You, thank You, Father, for our friends.
To God be the glory.
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