The thought of there actually being a day where women’s friendships are celebrated seemed a bit much to me. In my mind I figured “why do we need to be remined to appreciate those women in our lives whom we walk with on a regular?”. As I thought of the friendships I have, and the type of friend I have been, I recalled times when I haven’t been as good of a friend to those I hold dear to my heart.
This brings us to our intention for the day…what is it that I can do to be a better friend towards those I love. This is especially important to me if I desire those same characteristics reciprocated. Too often I witness misunderstandings, heart wounds, stubbornness, and pride destroying meaningful relationships that we were appointed to walk in. Yes, things do happen, but is our love not that much more powerful to overcome the issues at hand? I began to internalize this question, measuring up my definition of friendships to 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. As I read through this passage, I asked myself these questions:
Am I patient? Am I gentle and continuously kind to all? Am I jealous or envious when blessings come to others? Am I braggadocious? Am I rude? Do I demand my own way? Am I easily irritated or overly sensitive? Am I able to look over offenses and remain focused on what is good, refusing to hold resentment in my heart? Do I joyfully celebrate honesty, finding no delight in what is wrong? Am I a “safe place” for those who confide in me, or do I expose their shortcomings? Am I always hopeful, never losing faith, not giving up on my divine friendships?
I can truthfully admit that, though I have come close, I have not always walked in all these areas concerning my friendships. How grateful I am to those who stuck close by when I wasn’t patient, gentle, and kind. When I was rude and easily irritated towards them. When I was offended, and resentment tried to flood my heart concerning them. Yet through it all, they did not abandon me when misunderstandings, heart wounds, stubbornness, and pride got in the way. So yes, I see the purpose of national holidays such as Women’s Friendship Day which allows me to reflect on the privilege to have such phenomenal women in my life.
Today’s exercise is to read 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 and really meditate on the questions listed in this blog. Ponder how you treat the people in your life, and in turn how they are treating you. We expect our friends to support, pour into, and be there for us yet, at times, we fail to show up for them. When things begin to fall apart, we one dimensionally find fault in them but not the part we may have played to escalate the issue. Accountability is not a bad thing, but very liberating. You fight for what is valuable in your life. Periodic self-checks are necessary to maintain what has been entrusted to you. It’s true, some friendships are seasonal, but some are eternal. What are you doing to ensure these eternal friendships are healthy and thriving?
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