A few weeks ago, a neighbor of ours was going to be away on a trip and asked if we would mind watering her plants. As a fellow plant-lover and wanting to help out, of course I said yes. That’s what friends, and friendly neighbors, do.
When she returned home, she spoiled us with some thoughtful gifts, one of which was a beautiful ornament with a lovely saying.
Not only was the saying fitting as it related to plants, but it is very true. How many times does a friend brighten our day? Whether we are feeling down and they know just how to cheer us up, or whether they are being their kind selves and do something unexpected to make our day even better, friends are a blessing. And they just make us feel good.
I try to be a good friend. Normally, I’m not one who hangs out with a large number of friends, but rather I tend to spend time with a handful of close friends. But with those close friends, I try to be present for them and thoughtful about their needs, feelings, and happiness.
I’m learning that a relatively small effort in friendship goes a long way.
Little demonstrations of your love for someone can make lasting memories for them and is much more appreciated than you’ll ever know. I know this because I have been on the receiving end of some very sweet friendships.
My daughter continues to teach me how to be a good friend. For instance, she makes a point of it to make her friends feel extra special on their birthdays. She is very thoughtful in picking out a gift that fits their personality. In fact, she bubbles over with excitement while shopping for them. She is especially sensitive to their emotions and is on a mission to make sure they are happy. One of her favorite verses is Proverbs 17:17, “A friend loveth at all times”.
In fact, there are 99 verses that use the word or root word “friend”. Quite a few of them come from the Book of Proverbs. Let’s look at two verses in particular.
Proverbs 27:9,17
9 Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel.
17 Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
A good friend is faithful, loving, and sweet in a way that rejoices or cheers the heart. A good friend is also someone who will provide honest feedback and advice with love. Two friends are able to sharpen or make each other more fit in their minds and also in their spirit.
Along the same lines, the word “rejoice” appears in the same verse with the word “friend” when Jesus speaks the parables of the lost sheep and the lost coin to an audience of publicans and sinners.
Luke 15:6, 9
6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.
9 And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.
Both the man and the woman found something that had been lost. Jesus compared these stories to lost sinners who repented to God. In each parable, when the man and woman found the object that was missing, they both called their friends (and it says neighbours!) to have them rejoice with them. What is better than having a friend who will rejoice with you when you overcome a trial or receive a blessing!
Let’s look at one more verse about friends. The Lord directed me back to a passage that we previously explored in another blog post, https://lifeisavapour.com/we-all-need-to-be-refreshed/ . I love when He does that.
Acts 27:3
3 And the next day we touched at Sidon. And Julius courteously entreated Paul, and gave him liberty to go unto his friends to refresh himself.
I’m not going to repeat everything I said in my previous post on this subject. I would, however, encourage you to click the link and read the previous post if you haven’t already done so. But there is one takeaway message worthy of repetition – how wonderful it is when we are weary and have friends who refresh us.
Ponder this.
There are so many people that need a good friend right now. If the Lord lays it on your heart to do something in particular for someone, or to reach out and say hello, or to stop by and just visit with them for a few minutes, do so! It will be so appreciated. “A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly” (Proverbs 18:24). And it will make you feel good too!
Invest in someone today. Brighten their day. And make sure they know Jesus – what a friend we have in Him!
What will you do with this day you’ve been given? How will you make it matter for His Kingdom?
Good, loyal friends are hard to find. Unfortunately, I lost that kind of friend last December, she passed away from Covid. There has been a huge void in my life since losing her. We shared our happiness, our struggles, our fears, all the ups and downs of life. I have a few others that I’m close to but I’m not sure we will ever have that same closeness.
Making friends isn’t as easy as it once was but I definitely try to always be there for everyone if they need me. Sometimes I feel like I’m on a deserted island here in PA. I left so much behind when moved here from VA. Friends, family, church and then there was Covid and retirement at the worst time. I wanted to share my retirement with family and friends but that never happened. So much has changed. I know how much it means to me when I get an email, a text a small gift etc. I try to keep in touch with coworkers and friends by email, cards, Christmas, Get Well, Thinking of You and phone calls. A phone call means so much. I love hearing a voice. The one true and everlasting friend we have is Jesus and I try to remember that when I’m down but I’m human and it’s hard sometimes. In todays world, people really don’t visit or you have to make an appointment to visit, even with family. They text rather than call and if you get together it’s usually because of a birthday or holiday. It would be nice to go back to the way it used to be. We all need to show more kindness, friendship and love.
Thank you so much for sharing and I’m sure your friend’s passing left quite as emptiness as you said. You are right, true friends are a blessing!
Being a good friend definitely takes effort but it’s effects are far-reaching, and sometimes more than we imagine. So many instances pass across my mind of how someone’s small token of affection has made a lasting impression on my heart. We just never know how the things we do for someone can be a blessing.