One of the greatest human needs is to be known and to belong. So, naturally, we desire to interact with other humans. Still, it is essential for our emotional health and well-being as it increases our abilities to communicate events and stories we experience. Indeed, we cannot love within a vacuum; love is meant to be shared. Similarly, we need to lavish time, commitment, and acceptance to at least one other person for our passion to genuinely mature. Conversely, we ought not to hide love; we must give it away.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8a defines love as:
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy; it does not boast; it is not proud.
It does not dishonour others; it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”
So how do we form friendships? Solomon, the wisest person who ever lived, stated this about friendship:
“The man of too many friends [chosen indiscriminately] will be
broken to pieces and come to ruin,
But there is a [true, loving] friend who [is reliable and]
sticks closer than a brother.” ~ Proverbs 18:24 Amplified Bible
The New King James Version states it this way:
“A man who has friends must himself be friendly,
But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” ~ Proverbs 18:24
What is a friend? A friend is someone who accepts you as you are. They are willing to spend time with you and enjoy getting together with you. A friend is someone willing to point out a character flaw in a gentle way as well as one who will genuinely share joy with you.
A friend is a gift you give yourself!
The art of making friends involves risk and vulnerability. Without taking a chance on investing in someone, we may never know if they are trustworthy. So, to have a friend, be a friend. Take a step of faith, share your heart, spend time with someone, and share experiences of both joy and sorrow. The treasures you receive will far outweigh the difficulties you’ll face.
I have discovered that I must freely give grace and understanding to another, especially if there’s been a misunderstanding or miscommunication. We must be willing to work through conflict to have a friendship that will shine like gold. When we learn to extend loving acceptance beyond faults and frustrations, we gain the transformational gift of valuing someone else and find that we too are loved.
Choose friends wisely. Make a list of who is in your life at present and choose perhaps two or three people you’d like to devote some time to; you may uncover a beloved soulmate.
One of the best resources on friendship I have read is The Friendship Factor by Alan Loy Mcginnis.
This informative book is so viable it has been around for more than 25 years and is available in 20 languages. It brings to light the essential ingredient of warmth and caring to relationships and highlights examples from famous people. Mcginnis shares the secret of how to love and be loved.
So, to have a friend, be a friend … be a friend who loves to the fullest.
Gleanings From Heaven's Gate 