Friendships Are Precious

As my 9 year old daughter comes home from school upset about some friends and the way she has been treated by them I am reminded that friends that are true and right are few. Growing older, and watching my children develop friendships I've learned a few more things about friendships. They are few and precious. True friends that is. I have many many acquaintances and even some friends that are deeper. I have a handful of women that are my true friends. People that love me, accept me the way that I am, give me forgiveness when I ask and we just enjoy being in each others company.
I need those close friends. I need women to talk to me. Not just so I hear a noise each day, but women who tell me and show me God is working. The perspective a friend has on your life is sometimes brutally honest. For the friends in my life that have been willing to share that honest perspective I am eternally grateful. You have changed my relationship with the Lord. You have shown me a glimpse of what God is like. God knows I have great faults, and He isn't willing to overlook them. He loves me enough to tell me when one of my faults isn't "accidental" but rather a sin. Yet, He doesn't leave my side. He is there to walk me through the process of turning from the sin. My dear true friends have done the same for me. For that I love them even more. Something else I have found important is that a real, true friend doesn't let my sin go and just ignore it. They tell me that I am sinning. That's had for a person to do AND take. It is so necessary though for a real relationship to be there. That's how I know when my "friend" is a real friend. We can be so honest with each other that we can hold each other accountable to the God that brought us together.
God has a lot to say about friendships. They are good! Look at the friendship David and Jonathon had. They were willing to die for each other. How many of us can say that we would do that for a friend? I am happy to say, I have a few.

Moving to a new town I was so lonely and worried about making friends. Who would love me like my old friends? Well, for starters, my "old" friends aren't gone....we just live in different towns! We still talk and that relationship is still there. I truly believe God has made that happen. I started attending a church with my family and became involved. I have met some dear dear women and after 3 years I can say, a few friends. There are some wonderful women that love the Lord and I love them. I see the deep kind of friendship developing that all us women need and desire.
Thank you Lord for showing me through people here on earth how you as God can be my friend.