A Friend

Today in DOK (Daughters of the King for those that do not know what that stands for) we talked about what makes a friend. Kendra asked us to think of the good friends we have in our lives and the bad friends we have in our lives and the characteristics that make them the way we perceive them. I had many thoughts on the people in my life and those that were a part of my life in the past. This morning as I sat surrounded by a room full of dear friends and amazing women I realized that I am such a lucky girl. I have been through so much this past year and I've had some amazing people to lean on and hold me up. As we talked about what makes a good friend Kendra pointed out some great verses that I feel led to share with you all.

"A friend loveth at all times..."
-Proverbs 17:17 {KJV}
"A man that hath friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother"
-Proverbs 18:24 {KJV}
"Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses on an enemy are deceitful"
-Proverbs 27:6

I can apply these verses in my life and to the people I consider my true good friends. It wasn't until recently that I truly realized how blessed I am to have the friends that I have. And they all have an important place and role in my life. Each of them do little things here and there to show they care, many of them pray for me on a daily basis and many go out of their way to do something for me just to let me know they care. Being a friend is more than just having dinner every now and then. It's about respecting each other, not judging each other, and loving each other no matter what.

This week an old friend got in touch with me through Facebook. It's been almost 2 years since we last spoke. The last time we talked we had quite the falling out. We were super close for a long time and it truly broke my heart when we stopped talking. I was excited when I noticed an email from him the other day. We caught up and then talked on the phone for almost an hour a few nights later. He shared his apology with me and I quickly forgave him. Life has taken us in several directions since we last talked and it was great to catch up. I'm glad to have him back in my life because he was so special to me, in many different ways.

Tonight I was equally reminded of how great my friends are. Michelle came over to hang out and jumped right in and helped me finish cleaning and picking up my house. I was going to clean the carpets once I got finished picking things up and she grabbed the carpet cleaner and a towel and started scrubbing away at the spots on the floor. I'm humbled that she would come over and clean my floors for me so that I could finish cleaning sooner and we could hang out. How amazing is she?

I have two more verses to share that Kendra closed our time together with.

"But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
-Romans 5:8
"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."
-John 15:13

How amazing is it that there is a friend who died for you and I? Jesus loved us so much that He died for us so that we may have life everlasting. If you aren't a presonal friend of Jesus, please, don't wait another minute to become friends with the friend of all friends. Jesus is the friend that is ALWAYS there. He never fails. And He loves you far more than any of us deserve.

How would your friends describe you? Would they describe you as a good friend or a good "bad" friend? Do you love your friends? Do you treat them with the respect they treat you with?