Today I think about all the friends God has blessed me with through the years. We have moved 7 times, in 6 different states. Each time God gave me the friends I needed for that time period in my life. Some of those dear friends are now with Jesus. They have each fulfilled a valuable role in my life.
I think of the women that taught me how to be a godly wife and mother. How to understand and love being a homemaker. These were Titus 2 women that mentored me as a very young bride. Through their examples, they taught me how to serve my family. How to love my husband and children biblically. I learned from Joan Collier how to take a little and make much of it. I learned the importance of being dedicated to making my home a haven for my family. A place where there would be love, understanding, discipline, and most of all where God came first. She was a great mentor to me as a young bride. I was blessed to live and learn from her for 8 years, and some of those lessons I still use.
Titus 2:3-5 The aged women likewise, that they are in behavior as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.”
In I Thessalonians 5:11, we are taught to encourage one another and build one another up. We all need encouragement from time to time. Satan would love nothing more than to keep us in an attitude of discouragement. When we are discouraged, we are of no value to the kingdom. Shoy Campbell was such a lady to me. She was always telling me how much she enjoyed certain aspects of the ministries in which I was involved. Sometimes, she would drop a note in the mail, or I’d find a note stuck in my Bible that I had placed on the pew as I talked with guests at church. She always knew how to encourage me, and challenge me to push forward. She is now in her 90s but I still hear from her, and I am encouraged by her on Facebook!
I am thankful for friends that are forgiving. In Colossians 3:13 we are taught to “Forbear one another, and forgive one another if any man has a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.” Too many times in life I have had to go to a dear friend and ask for forgiveness. I am so thankful for those who honored the one who forgave most, by forgiving me. A good friend will always forgive. We are commanded to forgive if we want to be forgiven in Matthew 6:14-15 “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Jesus spoke these words himself. There is no option if you want the Father to forgive you, you must forgive others. Be thankful for those who have forgiven you and be a friend who forgives.
I am thankful for friends that love at all times as it teaches in Proverbs 17:17. Friendships can be messy and sometimes aggravating. It is not uncommon for each of us to be selfish and when things rub us the wrong way we want to bail on relationships. This is wrong and it is proof you are not a true friend. God wants us to live in unity. David wrote in Psalms 133:1 “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity” He understood this better than most. He was hunted like an animal by those who once showed kindness to him. However, he did have one friend who dwelled with him in unity. This was Jonathan. If you have such a friend, be very thankful. They are a rare find. I have been blessed to have a few that I felt this unity with.
I am also thankful for the many friends that have given me wise counsel. Someone who will tell me the truth because it is in my best interest. They help me be more like Jesus. These friends will not allow you to wallow in self-pity, or become bitter because someone treated you wrongly. These friends have matured in their relationship with the Lord and understand we must be Christlike in all of our relationships. This type of friend brings sweetness to the soul just as the odor of a good perfume brings a sweet aroma. Their counsel is wise and should be heeded. They care enough to help me see where I’m missing the mark in my relationship with God. This kind of friend understands they are taking a risk that I might reject their counsel, but they love me enough to try to help me see myself in the light of God’s word. These friends are the most valuable of all friends, but they are hard to find. If you have one, feel very blessed and hang on to them.
Proverbs 27:9 “Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel.”
The other aspect of having a good friend is to be a good friend. Thank God today for those friends and determine you will be one that fits the godly criteria that are set forth in these passages. Over the years God has blessed me with many women that have enriched my life in a positive manner. I pray I have done the same to them. That I have been a friend that bears burdens, encourages, loves at all times, forgives easily, and teaches by example how to love our family. I pray I give wise counsel based on the word of God and that I love deeply enough to risk friendship because I am standing for the truth of God’s word.
