The Value of True Friendships—Part II
from Bet She’an, Israel
A few weeks ago, I posted about the value of true friendships, and told you about a fickle friend from elementary school. I don’t know if this is true for you, but I suspect that to different degrees, everyone’s life is like this. Friends come and go in your life. They move into your life for a season, then either you or they, move out of your life.
Recently, I saw on Facebook a post that said something to the effect of “even though we don’t see each other often…when we do get together, we pick up right where we left off.” Click to Tweet
Do you have any friends this is true of? I do. In fact, most of my friends are like this. The only friends I see regularly are ones I see at church, at the service we attend.
Jesus had a circle of twelve men who were his disciples, who walked alongside him. Of that twelve, he had three who were much closer. When he would withdraw to pray, or when he visited the Mount of Transfiguration, he took only those three with him, Peter, James, and John.
I have three close friends, but we don’t see each other often. There is one that I see maybe once a month, because we belong to the same writers group. But we still don’t see each other to talk that much. However, next year, we are planning a very special trip to Arizona. We’ve been talking about it for a couple of years. Next year, we’ve decided to do it. She grew up there, and a favorite old TV western of both of us was filmed there. We’ve known each other about 22 years, and we’ve been through a lot together. I give her credit that we are still friends.
Another friend isn’t that much younger than me, but she is like a spiritual daughter. She attended a ladies group I led 11-12 years ago. I’ve watched her grow and she has developed into a wise, caring, and wonderful women’s leader, and I’m very proud of her. I see her occasionally, and I always love getting together with her. Because “daughters” who grow up and mature are a wonderful thing, and can be encouraging and helpful in so many ways. Last year, when my wrist was still healing, she came and helped me organize my chocolate office, clean out my personal office. I had no strength in my wrist, and she lugged and hauled boxes, made lists, moved things around. She was a godsend.
Then, there’s someone I would call my BFF. We’ve been through a lot together as well. We met in a Bible School 15 years ago. We both share a lot of common interests and personality. She is one terrific lady who balances a challenging career, family, and her church involvement. She helped me through two of the most difficult years in my life, one of which was my mother dying. We get together now usually only for our birthdays in the summertime, but we call, message, and email from time to time. It’s always wonderful to talk with her. Ten years ago when my mother died, she helped me clean and organize my closet when I didn’t have the energy. She drove me to New Jersey a couple of times for spiritual development classes. We were both training to become teachers of a certain ministry’s courses. She made it, and I’m proud of her. Though neither of us is involved in that ministry anymore, she worked hard to get a college degree, which is helping her find a great place to work in her field of interest.
I value all my friends but just as the Bible says, some are closer than brothers, such as these. Click to Tweet
What about you? Do you have friends you’re close to but don’t see often? What’s special about them? Leave a comment and let me know.
Donna L.H. Smith 