The Blessing of Friendship

I would think it is terrific if to have family living nearby-especially if they have the same faith and lifestyle. I've never experienced this, so can't really speak first-hand, but like Anne of Green Gables, I can IMAGINE it. That being said, we should not lament if we are alone in an area: God sees His children's needs and is eager to bless if we seek His will.

If family isn't local or if whoever is local is an unbeliever, having friends is quite necessary. Dare I say, possibly critical. I'm fortunate to be in a close knit homeschool group that has given me, as well as my children, friends. The opportunities to minister to one another abound and it always serves as a sage reminder that even though we all attend different churches, we love the Lord and are a part of the bigger Body of Christ. I'm so thankful for people willing to give of their time and love to my family and who are interested in us blessing them. With what some of our dear friends are presently going through, it has all been fresh on my mind. We take turns comforting and encouraging, truly opening ourselves up to the joy and the pain of intimate friendship.

Reader, if you are lonely, don't worry-God will provide. It may not be through people on your street, at your work, or quite sadly at your own place of worship. God has never failed in giving me people to bless and be blessed by, and we've lived in a few states and once left our church which contained many true friends. Siblings are terrific, but I've definitely seen that no matter how close siblings are, children need at least one or two friends.

This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. “You are My friends if you do what I command you. “No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. “You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you. “This I command you, that you love one another. John 15:12-17

As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. Prov 27:12

Where there is no guidance the people fall, But in abundance of counselors there is victory. Prov 11:14

I don't know about you, but I'm not going to get counsel from people who haven't invested any time in getting to know me or who have not allowed me to know them. Can we be sharpened by others if we keep them at arms' length? How do we love one another--is it to be formal and reserved, or something else? Are we careful to not use our family responsibilities, work responsibilities, schooling responsibilities etc. as an excuse to avoid giving of our time to others? We're ALL busy, but we're all also called to serve one another, not just those under our own roof.