As I have spent time reflecting on what is important to me, relationships have consistently risen to the surface. I am energized by spending time with true friends that know me and care for me. I am trying to focus my attention on pursuing these kinds of life-giving relationships, both old and new.
I am told that I am a good friend fairly often. It usually bothers me because I feel I fall short of what a friend should be. I’m trying to learn and practice “good” friendship.
I am the kind of person that likes to do things for other people. I don’t usually wait for them to ask for my help, I try to jump in before they reach that point and just come help out. If I can get something for someone that they need, I will usually do it. I try to make time in schedule to help out when those around me need it. I have been blessed with many friends and I love plugging them together to make new friendships or get something accomplished. I had an example of this the other day. Someone sent me a message saying she needed a washer and dryer for a house she was moving into. I remembered another friend had mentioned he needed to get rid of a washer and dryer at an empty house. I made the connection and the next afternoon I was driving out to pick up the set and be done. It was really simple and easy but I forget sometimes how out of the normal it is for so many people. That is sad.
I think some of the reason I do all these things for my friends and others is to “earn” their friendship. I know in my head that I don’t need to earn anything but somewhere in my heart, I still struggle with it. I’m amazed how this plays out in my relationship with the Lord too. I catch myself constantly striving to earn His love for me. That is impossible! His love is unconditional and nonstop no matter what I do. That is SO difficult to wrap my head and heart around. This leads to why I am not a very good friend.
Friendship is about balance. It is about give and take. There may be times that one side needs more attention and time but it should balance over time. I am finding I am not good at letting my friends serve me. I don’t like asking for help. All of my friends would help me out in a New York minute but I still don’t want to ask unless my options have run out and even then I struggle. I think this robs these same friends of the chance to achieve balance in our friendship. It also robs them of the chance to do something good for someone else.
Like earning friendship, asking for help is another area that applies to my relationship with God. I have not made the effort to ask for His help when I need it. I ask when I have tried everything else myself. I am learning to go to Him FIRST and ask for help, not because I earned it but because He loves me and wants to do great things for me. This is the inspiration for the title of my blog.
I want to be best friends with the Lord. I want our relationship to look like the one we read about in the Psalms between David and God. I want to seek Him as my constant companion and friend. My first step is to stop trying to earn it and ask Him to help me where I am. This trip to Africa is all part of that process. I am working on my journey to BECOME A FRIEND OF THE KING!
One of my FAVORITE songs to reflect on this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWgeUrD4MHI
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