I have a good mom. She shoots me straight all too often. It is sobering because she is always an advocate for “the other guy.” So if you are ever worried that I am talking badly about you to my mom, you are mistaken. She doesn’t like that kind of chatter. One of the phrases I heard frequently when I was growing up was…
“If you want a friend, be a friend!”
Then she would gently tell me that my expectations of my friends were exaggerated because I myself didn’t work hard at being that kind of friend. She was right. I hope that since those childhood years that I have become better at this. It is an ongoing process isn’t it? Figuring out how to show people how much we value and love them.
Recently, I have hit a patch where I need my friends. I need them to be my extra eyes, reminders, and prayer support. So, in this need I have seen even more the importance of having my close friends be people I can trust and know without a doubt that they are James 3 kind of wise. I have been refreshed by them day after day not because they coital my current inclinations but because they know the balance of sitting beside me and pushing me.
One of my favorite bloggers, Michael Hyatt recently wrote a post about the things he looks for in a friend and in the same way the friend he wants to be. I pretty much agree with all of these….
*Shows up for me in a crisis
*Listens empathetically without passing judgement
*Is willing to pitch in when I am too embarrassed to ask
*Affirms me when I doubt myself
*Reminds me of who I am when I forget
*Celebrates my wins, mourns my losses
*Remembers the things that are important to me
*Trusts me with their secrets
Here is being really, really good to each other and treating others as highly valuable!
ang – you meet all of those criteria for me. love you so much and i’m SO thankful for your true friendship. xoxo -nay
Awww same to you Jane. You are one that I was thinking of as I wrote this