Dear Friend,
As you got up this morning, I watched you and hoped you would talk to me,
even if it was just a few words, asking my opinion or thanking me for
something good that happened in your life yesterday, but I noticed you were
to busy trying to find the right outfit to put on and wear to work. So I
waited.
When you ran around the house getting ready, I knew there would be a few
minutes for you to stop and say hello, but you were too busy.
At one point you had to wait fifteen minutes with nothing to do except sit
in a chair. Then I saw you spring to your feet,
and I thought you wanted to talk to me, but
you ran to the phone and called a friend to get the latest gossip.
I watched as you went to work and I waited patiently all day long. With all
your activities I guess you were too busy to say anything to me.
I noticed before lunch you looked around, maybe you felt embarrassed to talk
to me, that is why you didn’t bow your head. You glanced three or four
tables over and you noticed some of your friends talking to me briefly
before they ate, but you didn’t. That’s okay, there is still more time left,
and I have hope that you will talk to me even yet.
You went home and it seems as if you had lots of things to do. After a few
of them were done you turned on the TV. I don’t know if you like TV or not,
just about anything goes there; you spend a lot of time each day in front
of it, not thinking about anything, just enjoying the show. I waited
patiently again as you watched TV and ate your meal, but again you didn’t
talk to me.
As you did your homework I waited again, as you did what you had to do. At
bedtime I guess you felt too tired. After you said goodnight to your family
you plopped into bed and fell asleep in no time. That’s okay, because you
may not realize that I am always there for you.
I’ve got patience more than you will ever know. I even want to teach you how
to be patient with others as well. Because I love you so much, a long time
ago I left a wonderful place called Heaven and came to Earth. I gave it up
so that I could be ridiculed and made fun of. I even died so you wouldn’t
have to take my place. I love you so much that I wait everyday for a nod, a
prayer, a thought or a thankful part of your heart. It is hard to have a
one-sided conversation.
Well, you are getting up again and once again I will wait with nothing but
love for you hoping that today you will give me some time. Have a nice day!
Your friend,
Jesus
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Ouch! How often am I that person? How often do I go through my day without spending time with my best friend? And how amazing that He is still willing to be my best friend?!
Friendship- true, deep and meaningful friendship is the next trait I discussed with my students. So many friendships are shallow, fair weather friendships and my students often had only experienced these. But true friendship is more than just having fun with each other- so much more. Here are just a few of the things the Bible has to say on this subject:
John 15:12-15 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.”
Luke 6:31 And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.
Romans 12:10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Out do one another in showing honor.
Ephesians 4:29-32 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Proverbs 18:24 is my favorite: A man who has friends must himself be friendly,
But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Those friends who stick closer than a brother, the ones who are with us through thick and thin, good times and bad times are rare. They are the ones who can see us at our worst and still love us. They are the ones who love us enough to hold us accountable and tell us hard truths in a loving way. They are incredibly valuable just because they are so rare. My goal is to be that kind of friend and I take my lessons from the best friend of all, Jesus!
Have a blessed day!
Cellebrate Life 