Everyone is touched by friendship. It is a keen observer in our lives. We can't really do without it well, but it sometimes seems more trouble than it's worth. The problems in friendships could be people because friendships with animals seem so much more satisfactory. However, when you get right down to it, 'satisfactory' is not a box beside our name that we would like to have checked. We would rather risk the lows to experience the highs, because without one or the other, all we are left with is 'satisfactory'.
So, we weigh the worth of our experiences and needs against our future expectations. After disappointments, betrayals, and lies...we try to forgive and trust again. We try to accept people for who they are and we quit trying to shame them or shape-change them into a certain mind mold.
We may try to evaluate the sum and total of our coexistance in each others lives to determine if the friendship is beneficial in any way, or salvageable.
However, I do believe when we do this, we must also check the balance of the scales in our greatest friendship. Who am I to judge someone else? Have I disappointed my Lord and Savior who actually gave up His life for me? Does He want me to have friendships based on how I can benefit from them and what they add ot my life...or, does He want me to be the light-bearer in friendships and BE Jesus to others? Does He not continually forgive me when I do or say something boneheaded? Does He not show me mercy?
Lord, teach me to be a better friend, that people will see You in me!
