A Friend Loveth At All Times
by Anonymous on 2001-02-23 11:42:02 A FRIEND LOVETH AT ALL TIMES . . .
Proverbs 17:17
Friendship is one of the greatest gifts anyone can have. In the recent months, I have re-examined what friendship really is. Friendship usually evolves between two people who find common ground or interests and enjoy each other’s company. My definition of a friend is: someone who knows all about you and loves you anyway! Eventually, your friends will disappoint or hurt you. It is a common fact that no one is perfect in this world. Not your father, mother, husband, wife, son, daughter or anyone you have contact with. Try as humans may, they are subject to failure. Therefore, even in a good friendship, someone will fail from time to time.
I have a good friend. We’ve been friends for many years. She was with me through a lot of good and bad times. When I went through a terrible divorce, she was there for me every day-listening, sharing, and praying for me. She took me to the hospital when I went into labor and stayed with me until my family arrived. If I ever needed anything, she had it in her purse!
However, during the course of our friendship, I noticed that she seemed to leave me out of her time and attention because others always seemed more important, especially those she was trying to impress so they would like her and be her friend as well. After several cancelled lunch dates and several invitations to her home were rescinded, I decided maybe it was time to end our friendship.
I was talking to my husband about it one day-telling him how I felt and that it seemed she didn’t have time for me or didn’t do for me as she did for others because she was taking me for granted and knew she did not have to do all those special things for me in order to keep me as a friend.
My husband looked at me and asked, ‘Does she have to do those things for you to keep you as her friend’? I always hate it when he’s right! But he was right. My friendship to her should not be based on what she does for me, but should be based on my love for her and accepting her just as she is. I spoke the answer to my husband and did not even realize it. The Word says, ‘A friend loveth at all times . . .’ I believe this truly means ‘all times.’ The good times, bad times, indifferent times, and hurtful times.
I began to think about how I had probably said or done things to hurt friends or other loved ones, and realized how important it was and is to me to be forgiven. I am truly blessed to have many wonderful friends who support me, love me, encourage me, and are there for me through all things life has to bring. I hope I can be that to all those I call friends at all times!
I would love to hear from the members and guests of welovegod.org. I would be pleased to answer questions or send a little advice your way about the subject of friendship or anything else you may be experiencing difficulty with in life!
In His service,
Kat
Disclaimer: Kathy Redwood is not a secular, professional counselor. The nature and purpose of her
ministry is discipleship, not professional/secular counseling, and she has not been trained in medicine
or psychology, nor has she been trained in any type of secular counseling. Kathy Redwood’s
emphasis is in the direction of the Word of God, and she trains people to search the scriptures (the
Bible) for answers to life’s problems. Neither Kathy Redwood nor welovegod.org nor any of its
owners, members, or representatives are responsible for, and cannot be held liable for, any harm,
injury, or loss occurring in the lives of participants of this topic. Kathy Redwood cannot control
decisions or events in participants’ lives or what participants may decide to do in the future.