Friendship

Friends are like fresh air which inhaled deeply makes your brain work better, your heart pump stronger and brings energy to your bones. I have a friend visiting this week and seriously we have not stopped talking.  That may be a girl thing but its also a chance for us both to recalibrate, check in and encourage.  There's nothing like a friend speaking into your life to make you pause and think about the honesty of their perspective of your situation.

When I develop a new friendship, I am entrusting that friend with the uniqueness of my life.  The more the relationship develops, the more permission I give to my friend to speak into my life.  That permission is implied rather than stated but there is a period of testing the waters; sharing deeper or more personal information, giving and receiving advice, honouring and respecting one another. Relationships are formed by trial and error and based on mutual trust.  We have to learn to be friends and friendships take effort.

I read a verse the other day that said " Love prospers when a fault is forgiven but dwelling on it separates close friends." We are never going to get it right all the time. We are going to hurt and misinterpret and find fault (if we want to go looking for it) but if we can learn to forgive those faults and hurts then we are going to build deeper relationships.

My relationship with Shaz has seen good times and bad.  We've lived life together (quite literally with our families in the same house for a few months - 4 adults, 7 kids - what were we thinking!!?), been involved in our kids lives, shared triumphs and disappointments, done church together, grown up together and we still like nothing better than a good talk to sort out our worlds. She accepts me, loves me and is not afraid to point out opportunities for me to view life differently and I love her for that.

We are called to love everyone but everyone will not be your friend.  We get to choose our friends. and your life is precious so choose wisely. Your life is a gift to be unwrapped with care and respect so if the friends you have chosen don't treat it that way then take responsibility for your life and share the gift with those who will enjoy the revelation of the you inside.