Do you have a hard time keeping a handle on having friends?
I do, too.
I have learned a few things.
Friendship is important.
We each need a tribe of believers we can depend on, not ultimately, but every day. It sounds callous to reflect on friendship as “every day”, but only Jesus will fulfill all the needs a true friend provides.
Your friends don’t have to live close!
I have very good, dependable friends who live all over the world. Technology is awesome! I can text, video chat, email or instant message them anytime! (don’t forget about those time zones) They are my people, my tribe, my friend-family. The time we get to spend together in real life is even sweeter because it is so limited.
My friends in close proximity are just as important. They are my conversation- coffee- tragedy-circumstance-laughter-holiday pals. We do stuff so we can flourish our relationships. We accept one another unconditionally. We do NOT have perfect relationships. Sometimes we get on each other’s nerves.
It’s ok. Grace, mercy, and forgiveness are all themes of friendship.
Having people is hard work, but necessary. You must take the good with the annoying. If you want to hold one another accountable, you have to understand it goes both ways. There are different types of friendships too. Knowing this will help make the journey a bit easier.
Here are some resources on relationships you may enjoy or find helpful.
Friendships with Non-Christians
Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman