Friendship

Friends are really the sprinkles on the sundae.  They make our days more fun and add so much joy at every stage of life. Having those close friends that see us at our worst and still love us are a precious gift.

My “friend” poster says, “Hard times will always reveal true friends.” I agree, we need friends to help us bear burdens, grief and the lows in life. Friends are so precious when we are heading through the valleys.
Personally, I believe, that hard times may be when it is easier to be a friend.   When a friend is hurting, we think of them all the time. We want to comfort, bring food, check in often and pray for them.  I think sometimes our friendship is tested more when times are good.  When it’s easy to forget, to ignore, or maybe worse yet, be a little jealous of friends’ successes. The poster that strikes a chord for me says, “To find your true friend, watch who is clapping at the finish line when you win the race.”   I get that. 
I want to be that friend.  I want to be there when it’s hard, but equally important, I want to revel in your successes. I want to clap at every race you win and know that your happiness doesn’t in any way remove joy or success from my life. Happiness is not a pie, when you get more, I don’t get less. There is lots of happiness and success to go around.

Good, deep, lasting friendship is work, it needs tending.  To have a good friend, you have to be a good friend.  If you want to only call once a month, not join in on meaningful days, cancel get-togethers, and never make friends a priority, it’s going to be hard to have a meaningful relationship.

Friendship means choosing.  Choosing the people you are going to give your heart to.  You will be kind to all, or at least to many, but you have to choose who you are going to invest in.  Make that friendship a priority and if for some reason the person that you choose is unable to invest in you, and give friendship back, then feel sad for awhile, and make a new investment.   It will be one of the most profitable investments you will ever make.