So... I've had some friend issues lately. I guess it doesn't matter how old you get, and how deep your friendships may be... anytime you have people in the mix - life has the potential to get messy.
So, several of my friends have said, or done, or not done things in the last month or so that have hurt my feelings. That deep kind of hurt that makes you wonder if you truly were friends at all. And, if you are a girl at least, you begin to analyze all the ins and outs of your friendship. You begin to feel like you are in junior high all over again.
These "incidents" got me to thinking... How many times have I said something hurtful? Done something mean? Been a jerk? Been selfish? Who do I need to apologize to? In essence, how can I be a better friend to my friends?
A good friend of mine always says, "You can say what you really think, or you can have friends." And, I've come to decide that he's right. While you've got to have great communication in all of your relationships to have any hope of health, there are just some things that are much better left unsaid.
We are all flawed. And Christ calls us to love people beyond their flaws, correct? Dang. Wouldn't it be easier to just say, well, you my friend are a jerk, or mean, or nasty, or crazy, or hurtful, or selfish, or weird, or whatever... and I just don't want to be friends anymore. Easier, certainly. But, my guess is less fulfilling or enriching.
So, offer some grace today to your friends. Maybe even, dare I say it, to your enemies?
