Friendships: Cultivating Life-Giving Friends

When I was a little girl, my Dad would whittle. He began with an ordinary stick of wood, and I would watch it transform into something that looked a lot different. Sometimes he would use a small piece of wood and it would turn out to be a pencil or a flower. But other times he would have a bigger piece of wood and it would totally transform into an object.

When whittling, you have to know how hard to press. Sometimes you even use a mallet to push the chisel deeper. My Dad would use all different types and sizes of chisels. It took a lot of time to end up with the finished product.

This relates to our friendships. They start out ordinary.

[Tweet “True friendships are created by being molded and shaped into something useful.”]

With social media today, we and our kids are surrounded by friend requests, followers, and instant communication. It is easy to have a lot of “friends.” We have to be intentional in what friendships we want to grow.

It is important for us to pay attention to who we are going to do life with.

Who we are surrounded by impacts this life on earth. Our friendships can be a big example to our kids.

We are given the example of friendship by Jesus in the Bible. He had friends. Close ones. In Matthew 10, Jesus called his 12 disciples. He taught them, he ate with them, they prayed together, they traveled together…they did life together.

That’s what we need.

But I’ll tell you what, it’s hard. Friendships are hard. Period. Because this life is hard, it makes it hard to live it intimately with others. You have to put your pride out the window. You have to give. You have to listen.

Friendships change. As we grow our friends change.  How many of you still talk to your friends from childhood? Probably not many. And if you do, it probably is a lot different than it was back then.

As we get older and have families of our own, we tend to lose our sense of self. As mothers we give, and give, and give. We worry about our children and pray for their friendships.  But what about our friendships?

As moms, we need to pray for our friendships.

As moms we need to stop comparing ourselves to other moms and really learn from each other.

[Tweet “We need to have friends to live this season of life with.”]

Jesus has taught us how to be a good friend. We can pray with them, eat with them, teach them, travel with them, and grow together. We just have to take the time to do it.

And you don’t have to tell me it’s hard…I know. You have to tell your story. Tell the mess and the ugly. But, believe you me! It is worth it. It is worth it to tell all of you to grow. You will grow in your friendship. You will grow deeper. You will be able to care and not compare.

I hope you will take the time to whittle down your “friends” and realize who you want to do life with.

The Lord created us to do life with others.  We are created for friendship.  Will you pray for true, life-giving friendships?

Let’s follow in the footsteps of Jesus.