On Friendship

Here’s how you can tell you have a true friend.

I showed up in the middle of the day unannounced. They opened their door and welcomed me in anyway! I got in a heated discussion with the man of the house. But at least I had the audacity to finally shut up. I was invited to dinner spontaneously despite my earlier head to head collision. I initially refused – too shy or stubborn to say yes. Then accepted after their insistence. I went back home and got so caught up with what I was doing, including going for a run, that dinner time arrived and I hadn’t even showered. I was texted by my friends to be reminded that dinner would be served in 15 minutes. I asked if I could come just as I was – sweaty and still in my running clothes. Of course, they graciously said.

I took them up on it and showed up – late. As soon as I pulled up the drive I realized I’d forgotten the small gift I was planning to take on my kitchen counter.

And ended up having the time of my life.

True friendship is gracious, and forgiving, and loving, and patient. It takes into account the heart of the person and not just the outside. It is focused on building up not tearing down.

True friendship is hard to come by. It is even harder as one gets older. It takes work. It takes commitment. It takes risk. But above all it takes love.

I heard a poem about friendship once by Joseph Parry that went something like this:

Make new friends but keep the old

Those are silver, these are gold

New made friendships like new wine

Age will mellow and refine

Friendships that have stood the test –

Time and change – are surely best

Brow may wrinkle, hair grow gray

Friendship never knows decay.

For ‘mid old friends, tried and true,

Once more we our youth renew

But old friends, alas! May die

New friends must their place supply

Cherish friendship in your breast –

New is good, but old is best;

Make new friends, but keep the old

Those are silver these are gold

Maybe you are in a season of life with few friends. Don’t be discouraged. Here’s something else I’ve learned from my favorite book of all.

“A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother” Proverbs 18:24.

It turns out my friends – the ones who had me over for dinner yesterday – well, they had Him over for dinner too!

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