It’s the month of Love! I have been debating to blog on love… or not. I decided love, but not the romantic love (that makes some of you want to vomit), but instead friendship love, and how important true friendship is. I’d also like to share what a good, Godly friendship looks like and how to pray for one.
Friendships are so hard to find and keep. I’m talking about friends who really care and friendships that go deeper than, “Hi, how’s it going?” There are some friendships that I know are for a season, and I’m okay with that, because I know God sends them to me for just a time to help me get through a season. Then there are some friendships that you have had since you were little, or in grade school, and are still going on today. To be honest, I’m a little jealous of those friendships because I don’t have them.
I consider myself to be a friendly person and I like having people be around me. I tend to let people in fast and then get hurt even faster. . I speak the truth into people lives and that has cost me some friends along the way. My heart has been broken more times than I would like to count, and I have been used as a doormat. Don’t get me wrong; I have done things in the past and have hurt people along the way, but that was never my intention. If you are reading this and I have hurt you, please know I am sorry.
Over the years, I have never really prayed for a good friendship. I have prayed and asked if I should walk away from a friendship because it’s not a good, healthy relationship, but I have never prayed for friends to come into my life. You would think after all these years I would have. Things that make you go Hmmmmm… Haha.
There was one Sunday about 2 years ago, (maybe not even that long) I was sitting in church feeling hurt, broken, and just sad. I couldn’t tell you what song was playing or even what the message was about. I just remember closing my eyes and crying. (Yes, I do cry a lot!) I began praying God, I’m hurt and I’m tired and just lonely. I know Jon is my best friend, (but he sucks as a woman) and I’m glad he isn’t, but I want a friendship that will last. I want a Godly woman where we can be each other’s cheerleaders, where we can vent and confide in each other knowing it would go no further than the room we were in. I want a friendship where we are pushing each other to grow in the Lord, and in other areas of our lives. Also, if it’s not too much to ask, can our husbands get along, too? Yeah, I know I’m asking a lot. With my eyes still closed, I just sat there for a little while longer thinking that this would become my daily prayer until God makes this happen. When I opened my eyes, Amy Watson walked passed me and God said, “Her. That is who I have for you.”
Here is how funny I am. God gave me what I asked for, but then I turned around and began to question and doubt him. I said to God, “Really? I don’t really know her… maybe I have said “Hi” to her from time to time, but that is it. She is going to think I’m nuts going up to her and saying, “You want to be friends? And, oh yeah… God said so!” God’s reply was, “Yup! You asked and I gave you someone. Now step out and know it’s going to be good.” When God says go, you go.
To make this long story short, we went out for coffee and hit it off. Then we went out with our husbands and, yup, they hit it off! God is so amazing! I found out she had also been praying for the same type of friendship, and for the hubby’s also to hit it off. As a bonus, all of our kiddos get along great, too.
I am so blessed by this friendship in so many ways. In this friendship, I have someone I can really trust to the point where I am able to share my goals and dreams. She stands behind me, encourages me to go hit my goals, and to go after my dreams. We lift each other in prayer, we are just there for when we have a crappy day, or we rejoice when something amazing happens. Side note: If it weren’t for her, this blog wouldn’t even be a thing. I shared my dream for this blog with her, and I also shared that I was not good with all the right grammar, spelling, and whatnots. She said she would edit them for me. (She is an English and Reading teacher at like a million colleges! Amy, if I said that wrong, go ahead and edit that… Haha)
Why this blog on friendship? Why this blog on Amy? I write this blog because if you want an amazing friendship, then pray about it.
Don’t be like me and wait until you are completely broken to ask God to meet your needs. God loves us so much and he cares for all our needs. Sometimes I think he waits for us just to ask and to tell him what we really want. Other times, he wants us to ask him to fill us up with his love before we can ask for other things.
Either way, just ask.
Amy, thank you for being you and for being an amazing friend. Thank you for taking the time to make my dream happen. Love you!
As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.
Proverbs 27:17 NLT