Happy Friendship Day

“Greater love hath no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friends.”     John 15:13-15

Friendships are such wonderful gifts to our lives. A tradition to set aside a day to honor the contribution of friends started in the United States in 1935.  The first Sunday of August was declared a holiday to celebrate friends by a Proclamation made by the U.S. Congress.  Gradually this celebration gained popularity and today Friendship Day is celebrated in a large number of countries.  Hallmark has an entire selection of cards on friendships, and gift stores offer everything from flowers to friendship bracelets.

There are several references to friendship in the Bible.   In the Old Testament, Abraham is called the “friend of God” because of his close relationship with Him.   Moses also comes to mind.  Remember how God spoke to him, “face to face, as man speaks to his friend” (Exodus 33:11)?   In the New Testament, the relationship between Jesus and His disciples, Mary and her cousin Elizabeth, and Paul and Silas clearly depicts how human friendships can constantly grow and nurture one another.

I personally believe that friends are God’s way of taking care of us.  God not only directs the steps on our journey of faith, but He also places people in our lives at specific times to touch our lives or for us to touch theirs.  Each person has a story – life experiences no one else can claim.  From these things we learn what we could not from any other person.  Our lives are enriched by those we keep close to us.  Some remain a lifetime, some only for a short while for the purposes God intends.

True friends know your faults but love you anyway.  I used to think that we chose our friends for who they are – I found out we actually love them because they accept and support who we are.  Carol came alongside of me as a young Christian mother and created a hunger in me to pursue God.  Debbie lay beside me on the floor during a dark time in my life and told me “if you go crazy, God will go with you.”  Ruth, Janet, Beth and Holli have lifted me to the arms of God through their prayers.  My husband Larry knows me like no other and humbly helps me to be a better person.  I am thankful for the friends that God has given me who continue to point me to Christ and encourage me to live each day for Him.

So to all my friends I pause this month to thank you for all the contributions you have made to my life.  A friend is truly God’s way of taking care of us.   I encourage you to let your friends know how important they are in your life.

Friendship Prayer

Father, Thank You for the friends you have blessed me with.  You knew I needed to hear your voice, so you sent them to me to share words of  encouragement.  You knew I needed to feel your comforting arms, so you sent my friend to give me a hug.  You knew I needed your guidance, so you sent my friend to guide me.  You saw that I needed someone to talk to, so you sent friends to me with willing ears.  You knew the trials that lay ahead of me, so you sent them to me equipped with your wisdom and your love.  You knew that I would grow weary, so you poured your strength through them into me.  And You knew that Your love for us was unfailing, so you sent us to each other to share it with.

Thank You for this cherished gift:  Yourself – wrapped up and given to me through my friends.

Blessings, Patti Ann