To be a Friend

"It's not the amount of years in the friendship, it's the amount of friendship in the years." --My best friend =)

Someone said this to me and it really struck me of how true it actually is. Some people I've known for almost all my life...and some I've known for a year or maybe less, but whatever the case may be I still feel a deep connection towards those that I have really gotten to truely befriend. I believe there are four types of people that you can get to know. 1. people you've met. passed by. looked at. etc. 2. aquaintances. those you've met and have gotten to know at perhaps a slightly deeper level than just what you might call the average "person you pass by". Like perhaps those people you were friends with before, but are not now. I've had a lot of "aquaintances". 3. your friends. people who you have actually gotten to befriend at a deeper level. you might not always be comfortable around them, but you still value them as "quality companions." and 4. best friends, or those who you have actually gotten to know on a deeper level, a more intimate basis.
3 and 4 are my favorites, of course =) I love the type of friend who that you know you can act silly and ridiculous and weird with and they'll do exactly the same.

This is the kind of relationship that Jesus wants to have with us. This intimate, deep, loving, I-don't-care-what-you-do-I-will-always-love-you type of level of friendship. He is the ultimate outline of friendship, the guide to be a true person. If Jesus were to write another book (besides the Bible) I would hope he would write something along the lines of "How to be the Perfect Friend". I'm sure it would be the #1 Best Seller ;)

For me if I were to even "try" to be the perfect friend, I would use the guides of the love chapter. I wish I could always be patient and kind, never envious or boastful...never jealous or rude or self-seeking. Not easily angered. Never keeping any recrod of wrong. To never delight in evil but rejoice within the truth. To always protect, hope, trust, and to always persevere. To never fail. I can try to be this way but I realize that I will never truely sum up to these standards of friendship. Only Jesus can. To be able to forgive others of their sins against me. To turn the other cheek when I am offended or trespassed against and to never hold any grudges. To love and honor and cherish every living soul with my whole being. I would love to be like this...but I know I could enver measure up. Only Jesus can.

Jesus is my ultimate friend. I know that no matter what I do, or say, or how I act or anything that he will always, always, always forgive me for what I've done wrong.

And I can try to be but a incomparably small example of Jesus' Love and Friendship to us. Maybe I'll make a difference somehow to those I love.

"Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints on your heart." --Eleanor Roosevelt.

Love,
--Becca =) <3