Tuesday, August 25, 2009

What is a TRUE FRIEND?

 
What is a TRUE FRIEND?

Have you ever had someone who you called FRIEND only to find that the depth of the relationship was far less than what you thought it was, or could be?

We all have.  Over the past 2 years of my journey I have assessed the meaning of FRIENDSHIP and that of what a TRUE FRIEND really is.

I ask you this... Is it better to have hundreds of aquaintences
or a handful of TRUE FRIENDS?  
 
I personally KNOW a lot of people.  How many of them can I call my TRUE FRIENDS?  Not many.

Ask yourself - what is it you expect from a friend.  I find that we all enter relationships with preconceived notions of what we expect from the other person.  
 
This could be in a romantic relationship or in our friendships.
I have found that the less I expect from people the happier I am.

We set ourselves up for disappointment when we expect.  People are people.  We all fail.  We all fall short.  
 
Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God..,"

Is it not a great disservice to your so called "friend" when you place expectations, pressures and undue stress on them with your expectations?
 
I know that it is very hard for me to be all that people want and expect from me. 

I am a pleaser.  I love to make people happy and find it very disheartening when I fail.
 
I try to apply these feelings to that of being a friend.  I know that I do not like having to always jump over the ever raising bar that people sometimes tend to set.  I know I will fail.

As parents we are forgiving of our children when they mess up - why can't we be as forgiving with friends?  A true friend makes no excuses but will be with you whenever you need them.  In your hour of desperation, a true friend will support you even if the whole world opposes you. 
 
A true friend is not an opportunist. 
 
A true friend means to have someone who is like mother - expecting nothing but giving everything.

I want to be a true friend.  I want my children to know I am their true friend and their mother.

If I accomplish nothing more in life than that of being someone's TRUE FRIEND - I will be satisfied.

Thank you to MY TRUE FRIENDS - you all know who you are.  Thank you for being here for me, letting me be - just me. 
I can call you at any hour.  I am not worried about you judging me.  I can speak my mind without worry.  You are here for me, no matter what.

I hope you know I am YOUR TRUE FRIEND too!

xoxo
Janean
PS - Isn't it great to know we all have a TRUE FRIEND IN JESUS?