Building great relationships takes time and energy. And you only discover how valuable such relationships are when they're tested. One author writes: "Contouring your heart to beat with another requires extensive whittling to trim away self-centeredness. It's like riding the bus, if you're going to have company you must be willing to scoot over to accommodate other people and the baggage they bring. Your actions in doing this express the importance of the other person. One relationship becomes more valuable than others because of its ability to survive and endure realignments!"
The qualities we value most in a friend are two-fold: (1) The assurance that they won't bail out when the road gets rocky, (2) The knowledge that our imperfections and scars won't change their level of commitment. Solomon said, "A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother." It's about quality, not quantity. That's why heart connections can be so much stronger than blood connections. Don't be too quick to discount someone's good qualities because they made a mistake, disappointed you or did something without thinking. You wouldn't haul your car to the junkyard because it had a faulty battery or a flat tire! Love means risk, but the payoffs outweigh the investment. Behind every success story you'll find people who once felt so discouraged they wanted to quit, who fell and needed lifting when someone stepped in, picked them up and helped them to keep going. Life is not built on acquisitions and accomplishments, it's build on relationships. So keep yours in good shape!
Copied from The Word For You Today
What a great way to start the day, Susan.... this says everything I so believe in!
ReplyDeleteThis was a great post. Very timely for me. I have a friendship that seems to be tapering off and I have to weigh what is the best thing to do.
ReplyDeleteLove your words.
Jennifer
Great thoughts. Those friends are very rare but a blessing from the Lord!
ReplyDeleteSo true. The ones that are tested by fire and still last are the treasures.
ReplyDeleteGreat thoughts, Susan! And really good friendships are so hard to come by- we need to treasure them!
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
~Tammy
Ms. Susan- This is so beautiful! and so very true! I cherish the wonderful friends I have in my life. Which reminds me, I need to do my next post on my friendship series! Blessings!
ReplyDeleteLove means risk....so true, but imagine life without taking that risk...I can't!
ReplyDeleteexcellent post Susan. I have a found that a a good friend is a rare gem.
ReplyDeleteWhy is it that most people look for the same thing but is not willing to be that or receive that.
ReplyDeleteThank you Susan. This is so true. I can identify with the discouraged person, who finally does find success, with the Lord's help of course. We can do nothing on our own. Great post.
ReplyDeleteKathi
This is so beautiful!! I really appreciate our "heart connection!"
ReplyDeleteGreat thoughts. My hubby says there 3 phases in a relationship and between each one is a bridge called conflict. If you manage the conflict you go deeper. Sometimes unfortunately people just walk away.
ReplyDeleteI hope that you are recovering well. Thank you for your post.
I've so needed to read this, dear Susan, and I thank you for sharing it with us! xoxo
ReplyDeleteWell written, sometimes we tend to judge others more than trust them. I'll make a point to think of the words of this post with a friendship that is trying at the moment.
ReplyDeleteThanks for being my friend.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful post, Susan! How true it is! Thank you for your encouragement on my blog! I dearly appreciate you!
ReplyDeleteMy friend Jim and I have been meeting once a week for a meal for the past 15 years.. he has got me through the death of a wife, difficult children, and sickness. We have laughed and cried together.. he is an excellent friend and brother in Jesus!
ReplyDeleteHi Susan,
ReplyDeleteI especially enjoyed the 'bus' analogy. I know friendships are so important and worth striving to keep.
God bless,
Brenda
Thank you for posting this. I needed to read it today.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Susan
Thanks for writing this. I have some awesome friends myself... and my husband is an awesome best friend.
ReplyDeleteYour heart shines through in this post, and these are such wonderfully wise words.
ReplyDeletegreat devotional. i especially like; Love means risk, but the payoffs outweigh the investment. sometimes we don't want to take the risk, but the payoffs really do outweigh the risk.
ReplyDeleteThis is So true.... many don't understand the meaning of friendship. it is so sad.
ReplyDeleteGodbless you Susan in Jesus Mighty Name Amen
Good word, Susan. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteWhat wise words. it is amazing these days how little regard people can have with relationships. Having been "victim" more than once to someone just ending a relationship with no reason, God has had to restore my heart. Ultimately, resting in Him allows us to trust again.
ReplyDelete