Just because I’ve had this conversation at least 3 times in the last 3 days.
Two of my friends thanked me for being their friend. Please don’t get me wrong, I’m not trying to promote myself, I just want to talk about the importance of friendship. One of the reasons they thanked me was because they felt that when we spoke, they were in a no-judgment zone. Funny enough, when I talk to these friends, I am also in a no-judgment zone, so I can speak freely, knowing that I am not going to be judged or talked about behind my back.
I just want to emphasize that there are people who are hurting, and because they feel that they have no one to talk to, they are keeping all their thoughts and feelings bottled up inside. This can only be a recipe for disaster. I’ve learned over the years that to have a good friend, I must first be a good friend.
I don’t think I need to expound on the benefits of genuine friendship, but I will anyway. I actually went to my trusted Google friend to give you a list of the benefits of having good friends in your life.
Increase your sense of belonging and purpose
Boost your happiness and reduce your stress
Improve your self-confidence and self-worth
Help you cope with traumas, such as divorce, serious illness, job loss or the death of a loved one
Encourage you to change or avoid unhealthy lifestyle habits, such as excessive drinking or lack of exercise
Friends also play a significant role in promoting your overall health. Adults with strong social support have a reduced risk of many significant health problems, including depression, high blood pressure and an unhealthy body mass index (BMI). Studies have even found that older adults with a rich social life are likely to live longer than their peers with fewer connections. – Source – mayoclinic.org
God did not intend for us to act as lone creatures. I think of the friendship that David and Jonathan (Saul’s son) shared, and how through this friendship David’s life was saved. Jonathan actually defied his father to save David. I’m not telling you to defy your parents. I’m just suggesting how vitally important God thought friendship was. He even created Eve for Adam, so that he would have a companion, and wouldn’t be alone. While there were other purposes, Eve was created to be his friend.
My friendships have gotten me through some very difficult times in my life, and I thank you to those who have been there through the years.
Dear Heavenly Father, help me to recognize the importance of being a good friend, and recognizing that having good friends start with being a good friend. I thank you for all the strategic people you have placed in my life who have enriched it.