"True Friendships"

It's been a rough week... really rough (some of you know what I'm talking about) but yea I'm still here, alive and breathing. It's reading break now at ubc. everyone's feels a little relieved, you can actually see people with smiles on their faces. It's only for a week but it's better than nothing. It's good to a chance to get some air once in a while so you won't drown.

So let me go on talk about what friendships are. So what exactly is a friend? Someone to relate to? Someone to "chill" with? Youve probably heard all of these things before. it's so cliche isnt it? It is but its is true. A friend is someone you can relate to, someone you can chill. That is a friend. I mean technically everyone is our friend, be that maybe your teacher in you math class or your neighbour. But I think there is a difference between calling each other friends and having an "actual friendship." I have this little devotional in my Bible that kind of defines relationships with people. Jim Conway, the guy who wrote it, says to have people who you nourish and who return little or nothing to you, some people who nourish you but you may return nothing to them and a third relationship is equal sharing ... this is what he calls a FRIENDSHIP. He mentions not to refere the first two as friendships as the first one is your ministry to someone and the second is someones ministry to you. "Only the third - equal sharing - is true friendship." I believe those words are true. We are all friends to each other but there are those friendships that are true and strong, the ones that stand out and the ones that you keep coming back to whatever happens. It may be even true that these friends that are your "true friendships" are your Best Friend or Best Friends.

Believe me when I say that you are truly blessed to have these friendships. I've talked to a lot of people about friendships and whenever I mention that I'm going out to see my best friend and/or my closest friends, they're always like "Aw that's so cool that you have a best friend or a close friend." And I believe that. I am blessed to have these special people in my life. To think about it I've only known these people for a year. I don't know how I deserve this blessing. I really don't know. But yea sometimes I admit that I do take for granted these friendships ... thinking that they're just always there but when they're not there anymore you appreciate them more. I mean thats what i mentioned feeling in my last blog. Time is short. May it be as scary as it may seem, God can end our life at any time at any moment as my best friend puts it. And that is true. Not only do we have to make something of our lives to serve God but to cherish every moment that God gives you especially with those whom you love so much whom God has put in your life for a reason. So yea, I'm learning to love more ... maybe Im loving people too much now. All I can do is try to learn. Ive learned to appreciate my best friend and close friends the hard way. I hope you don't make the same mistake as I did. Even if you do, God has the power to transform situations and our mistakes to something that we can learn from. I mean this is what happened to me. Also Im still learning to rely more on God through these tough times. Jesus is our true best friend. This is probably the most important part of the blog that I'd want you to know. Jesus is our best friend. He will never leave or forsake you. I admit that I struggle with that at times and sometimes a lot. It's just that we need to believe that. I need to believe that. It's pretty uncomprehensible as to see how that is true but it is true. We need to have faith. I need to have faith.

Also, please dont think that Im saying that to not be friends with anyone else or just to love your friends because I'm not. I hope thats not what its getting across when Im describing my own experiences (may that be as vague as they may be. Jesus' love is unconditional so must ours be as well. We can't just choose to love certain people. Jesus said to "Love your neighbour as yourself" (Mark 12:31). Everything that we do to people we much in love. "Do everything in love" (1 Corinthians 16:14). Even though we are not that close to a certain person, it doesn't mean not to love them. I believe this is what people are yearning for. People are yearning for "true friendships." The feeling of loneliness is probably one of the main causes of depression and Ive experienced that myself so reach out to those who need someone.

But yea, cherish those "true friendships." Tell that best friend of yours or your closest friends that you love them. These are very powerful words I tell you. They are powerful (even though people use them nowadays soo loosely - which is kinda sad). Tell them that and truly truly mean it. Don't just say it, show them that you love them ... hug them, make something for them, kiss them on the cheeks(only if you guys are comfortable doing that and that means both of you). I mean I know it feels great to be truly loved back by the people you love. I challenge you to do that. Even though you might have heard this before and its sounds so cliche I still challenge you to do it. Spread the love. I mean this love is given to us by Jesus Christ. This is His love. We must share it.

I'll end with this ...
"Good friends are hard to find, Harder to leave, IMPOSSIBLE to forget."

Just think about that. (Ive reminded and talked about this it with my best friend and we ended agreeing because there is truth in that.)

So yea, that's it for now. Hope things made sense. God Bless.