The Gift of Friendship
So encourage each other to build each other up, just as you are already doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11
There are very few things in life that can put a smile on your face like getting together with friends. Laughing, sharing, giggling and eating together are simply part of the holiday season. Whether it is a spontaneous party or one that has been planned for months, the sound of chatter, cackles, and hearty guffaws fill the house and sprout memories.
We all have stories to tell about the holidays and the crazy events that have happened. I spent Christmas with a friend in FL and he forgot to take the turkey out of the freezer to thaw. It was 10:00AM and time to put the 25 lb. turkey in the oven for the late afternoon church dinner. Disappointment? Heavens no! He took out his chain saw and cut that big thing into pieces. He made it fit in the oven. By dinner time, it was so tender it just fell off the bone!
Friendship is a beautiful gift that grows with TLC. When you have a friend who is loyal, caring and always there for you through tears or chuckles, consider yourself blessed. There are some who have a difficult time in this area whether through past experiences or personality, they cannot easily make friends. Please don’t forget about them.
Once there was a little baby who was born in a barn many years ago. We call Him our Friend. Now that is a memory worth sharing. When you get together with friends, do you talk about the blessings in your life? Do you share about how God’s love brought you through the troubled waters? Do you even mention God at all?
Yes, the holidays are a time for sharing. What are you going to talk about with your friends this year as you get together? Having friends is a true blessing; it is a gift but remember the real Gift.
Father God, thank You for being my Friend. Teach me to love as You love, show mercy as You do and to be willing to share Your friendship with others this season. AMEN.