Good Friends

Sometimes the strangest people become friends.  They seem like the least likely to pair up and become really close friends.  I have had some good friends over the years.  It is amazing when you find that one person that you just “click” with.  That seems to understand you really well and understand where you are coming from with everything.  It is even more amazing when your families get along well and everything just seems to fall into place.  It has been a while since I have really found that connection with anyone or any family.  There have been some great friends that I am just friends with, or me and my girls are just friends with, but to find someone that your whole family feels so comfortable with and so wonderful with is rare and far between. 

I have blogged about how friends are important before, but not as important as your relationship with Jesus.  When Christ is the basis of the friendship that you share, it is a rare and beautiful thing.  My husband is a do-er…  he hates to sit around and chat which is what I love to do, and many people love to do.  So for us, finding people that he can stomach sitting around with and talking for 3 hours, is hard.  Fortunately for me, this family came along right as I needed them the most. 

I have been really homesick.  I have really wanted to move home and be near my family.  Don’t get me wrong, I love my in-laws and love living near them, but there is something about the comfort level of being close to home.  Knowing your mommy is down the road and your sisters are close by, Daddy is just down the road if you need him to come be a hero while yours is at work or solve some silly computer issue.  It has been really hard for me to not feel 100% plugged in anywhere.  I have friends, but maybe they don’t have kids, or we don’t hang out as families.  I have tried and made efforts and then tried too hard and pushed people away.  I have been too clingy, needy and high maintenance in the past.  Finding someone that will deal with all the weird idiosyncrasies that come along with us is rare. 

Ecclesiastes 4: 9-11    “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work;  If one falls down, his friend can help him up.  But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!  Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.  But how can one keep warm alone?  Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves.  A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”

I love this set of verses.  My favorite part is the last part though, this section of verses is talking about one friend – so you and one more makes two, but the end says “A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”  That third strand, that strand that makes it so strong is the cord of Jesus Christ. 

It is easy to have friendships that are fun for the time being – and fun to hang out with people, but when friendships are rooted in Christ and use that third strand to stick together, it is something else and so beautiful! 

Also, as kids go back to school, or someone new starts at work or church, we need to remember them, we need to see them – no one ever wants to be the man who falls and has no one to help him up.  No one wants to be cold.  We need to make every effort to be sure that we are not leaving people on the ground and cold.  Reach out to that one family, that one person today.  Make an effort and pray with and for them and your friendship will not be broken.