Let's Be Friends

Ahhh, friendships! Do you ever stop to think about how many different "types" of friendships there are? Of course, there are the casual acquaintances that you politely nod your head to and smile at at church. Then there are the "duty" friends that you really know nothing about but because of responsibilities or other commitments (yours or your husbands), you make small talk about the weather and such because honestly, you really have nothing to talk about with them. There are also the "needy" friends that at times can suck the life out of you if you're not careful. We all have good friends that we share most of what's going on in our lives but even then we are still guarded to some extent. Some of us have "crisis" friends that we love dearly, but don't always hear from unless there is a crisis, however, we gladly run to their side because we know that they trust us and need us to hold them up. The accountability friends are very important, you choose these friends wisely, because you want to know that you can trust them with your "stuff". And what about the "lifers"? These are the friends, few they may be, that will be our friends forever because, frankly, they just know way too much about us!

I was chatting with a "newer" friend today and we were discussing friendships. We were discussing difficult aspects of friendships, like when we, ourselves, get in the way and perhaps our selfish side takes over. Or when we way over think a situation or conversation and get all worked up over something that is only in our head! I'm really creative so I do this really well! As I was thinking about our talk, I began to think more about friendships in general and how God has used them in my life.

There are different seasons to friendships. Was there ever a time that God has brought someone into you life that you knew would be a dear friend and wondered why? I know that's a strange question, but it's happened to me! I remember meeting someone and as we talked, I knew that we were going to have a good friendship and wondering why I was going to "need" this friend. Only in time did I realize why she had been brought into my life at that particular moment. Today we are still friends but only talk or e-mail only occasionally, but for that season of life we needed each other.

What happens when you are feeling God leading you to sever a relationship? That's a tough one. Many times, basic circumstances in life cause relationships to end, or at least take a huge step back from what they once were. Is this a bad thing? Not necessarily. I think many times God uses us and others in different ways to teach things that we could only learn from that person at that time. If we do not move on, we may never know who else He has for us to learn from or teach.

God made us to be relational, and friendships are a gift from Him!


I do realize that you are trying to figure out which type of friend you are...