Friends are indeed like a four-leaf clover, hard to find and lucky to have. I’ve never been successful at finding four-leaf clovers, but I’ve sure been blessed with having good friends in my life.
Sometimes I take time to consciously recall my good friends that the Lord has blessed me with. It’s never hard to make a mental list of the good friends who have shared a significant part of the journey of life with me. Other times, the name and the remembrance of a good friend will come to me randomly as if they were sending me a mental message. I’ve often discovered that if I’m thinking of a particular friend and they keep coming back to my thoughts it’s a good idea to call them and make sure they are OK.
When I start thinking of good friends who once were an important part of my life but who have gone on to their reward in heaven, I walk into “holy ground.” The mere remembering of their name brings joy to my heart. Of course, I wish with all my might that I could talk with them again and say to them, “I love you,” and “Thank you for being such an integral part of my life.”
When I start thinking of good friends who are still part of my life I am equally blessed. It’s usually a cue for me to call them on the phone or arrange a lunch or dinner with them (I’m not a breakfast guy so forget that one).
I’d like to share five easy but important ways we remember and honor our good friends:
First of all is remember the good friends you have in your life. I have been blessed with good friends. Secondly, it’s easy but bad to take our good friends for granted. That’s a shame when it happens. I’m guilty of taking my good friends for granted too often. Third, it’s a shame when I let the “little stuff” get in the way of my precious friendships or focus on some small (or even large) slight or offense, and I fail to either address my hurt or just back away from a good friend. Fourth, it’s important to not squander our friendships. When we ignore our friends or take them for granted or get angry over less important things, we run the risk of squandering our friendships. Fifth, it’s so important to nurture good friendships. We are better people when we have good friends in life, and we need to nurture those friendships with all the care we would give to taking care of the most precious orchid we ever saw. As the old saying goes that we learned in grade school, “Make new friends but keep the old, for one is silver and the other gold.”
Who are the good friends that have been part of your life? Do you think of them enough? Do you nurture and take care of those special friends in your life? I’ve learned the importance of differentiating between my “acquaintances” and my true or good friends. Be sure to thank God for the friends he has sent your way in life. There’s no better blessing!