Picture from http://teddybearsforhugs.comThe cover of my Omer of Manna (God journal) reads ~ 'A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.' (Proverbs 17:17)
Something that God's been teaching me in the past few years and something I have to constantly remind myself to be ~ A good friend. One who is kind, loves unconditionally and is doubly patient despite the other's imperfections, disgraces and short-comings. To be willing to deny myself if needed be, so that the other person can be encouraged or helped.
Honestly I don't know how some people can be such good, valuable friends to me. Through the years. Sisters and brothers '...born for adversity.' Such precious lessons are learnt in thankfulness.
I myself find it extremely difficult. Not to mention emotionally draining sometimes. It is not easy to be a good friend. I am not very consistently 'good' at all - @_@ ~ The things I catch myself thinking, saying or doing when I'm not careful. Sometimes, I realize I hurt others by words. But I am learning. To love. To forgive and accept. To give and offer to serve. To encourage, even out of my own weariness. To intercede, even when I don't feel like it. To not sweat the small stuff or be legalistic. To guard my heart, lips and mind in Christ.
It is a humbling process all right. Particularly in the past 1-2 months. I am exhausted. Especially when I fail so often in my human weakness. But if it makes me depend on the Lord, (like right now), it is a good thing. Lord I want to be a Christian in my heart....
We ALL ultimately need to learn from Jesus. For that reason, I love the old hymn... 'What a Friend we have in Jesus' by Charles Converse. (Go ahead, Google it!) It is only out of the overflow of our hearts, we express action. Therefore, we can only be good friends, if we know the Greatest Lover of our souls! :)
Something that God's been teaching me in the past few years and something I have to constantly remind myself to be ~ A good friend. One who is kind, loves unconditionally and is doubly patient despite the other's imperfections, disgraces and short-comings. To be willing to deny myself if needed be, so that the other person can be encouraged or helped.
Honestly I don't know how some people can be such good, valuable friends to me. Through the years. Sisters and brothers '...born for adversity.' Such precious lessons are learnt in thankfulness.
I myself find it extremely difficult. Not to mention emotionally draining sometimes. It is not easy to be a good friend. I am not very consistently 'good' at all - @_@ ~ The things I catch myself thinking, saying or doing when I'm not careful. Sometimes, I realize I hurt others by words. But I am learning. To love. To forgive and accept. To give and offer to serve. To encourage, even out of my own weariness. To intercede, even when I don't feel like it. To not sweat the small stuff or be legalistic. To guard my heart, lips and mind in Christ.
It is a humbling process all right. Particularly in the past 1-2 months. I am exhausted. Especially when I fail so often in my human weakness. But if it makes me depend on the Lord, (like right now), it is a good thing. Lord I want to be a Christian in my heart....
We ALL ultimately need to learn from Jesus. For that reason, I love the old hymn... 'What a Friend we have in Jesus' by Charles Converse. (Go ahead, Google it!) It is only out of the overflow of our hearts, we express action. Therefore, we can only be good friends, if we know the Greatest Lover of our souls! :)
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