At first I thought that I wouldn’t have a problem writing about friendship, but I think I am confused what true friendship is right now (so if this post sounds a little sad, well it might very well be).
For me true friendship is that you have a person you can confide in, you can trust, you share the sad times and the good times, without judgment. Anything you tell a friend, stays between the two of you and no outsiders have insight. There is no gossip behind your back when you confide in a true friend.
So thinking about true friends, I only have a handful of them, if even that. My husband is my best friend and I like that. He is my confidant and I can truly trust him that our conversations will stay between the two of us. Than there is my closest female friend, Carlene. Oh, I am so blessed to have her in my life. When I went through a royal mess last year, she was the only one who stood by me – through thick and thin. She helped me to put things in perspective. After stepping back from ‘public’ ministry due to personal reasons, I thought that my ‘friends’ at church would support me and my decision. Oh, I was so wrong. You see, if you are no longer in public ministry, they forget about you (well maybe it is different at your church – count it as a blessing). I had to reach out to still be in contact with them. No one ever came around, no one sent an email to see how I was doing. How sad! That really put a dent into my relationship with the ‘Christian’ church body. ‘Everyone’ is telling you that Christians need a church home, to be edified, to support each other in prayer and just be there for each other. So, is the church body there to support each other? I hope it is true for you.
Oh, and than there is the on-line community. Believers and unbelievers come together to share their thoughts and their life on-line. I think that I have made some friends (believers and unbelievers) who I can even talk to ‘off-line’ who support me, build me up and I can trust with my personal thoughts that are not for the public. Are they true friends? I don’t know. But the thought of it is awesome; that I can trust a complete stranger with my feelings and my personal thoughts…
There is one other true friend. He is the Ultimate Friend. He is just a prayer away. I can tell Him my darkest secrets, my biggest hurts and He won’t tell anyone. In the matter of fact, He even cleanses me in the process; when I confess my wrong-doings. What ever I do, what ever I say, the secret stops with Him. My hurts – He takes care off. Do you have such a friend? I am glad I do…
What a friend we have in Jesus,
all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
everything to God in prayer!
If you would like to participate in the Carnival this week, there is still time. The deadline is tomorrow, Tuesday, February 21st, 6pm CST. Please visit Michele at Chasing Contentment to get information how to submit you entry. I hope to see you there *smile*.
yes, born and raised in Bremerhaven – am goin’ back this Thursday for a few days, surprise visit to relatives! should be fun, I’ll post photos when I’m back…
thanks for stopping by my blog.
Oh – this is wonderful. I am looking forward to your pictures :)…Can you take some of the ‘Hafen’? Last time I was in Germany, I had no time to go down there 🙁
Nicely put, Iris! It’s important to remember our Ultimate Friend as you have done here.
You know, it is unfortunately true that Christians are the only ones who “shoot their own wounded”….I used to love that old Twila Paris song, The Warrior is a Child: “They don’t know that I go running home when I fall down. They don’t know who picks me up when no one is around. I drop my sword and cry for just a while. Cause, deep inside this armor, the warrior is a child.”
Be Blessed and thanks for your beautiful post!!
I am so very thankful that I do have a friend in Jesus ..great post and a wonderful reminder that he is who you need to lean on.
If you have a handful of friends, you are very fortunate. I have 3 real life friends. But that’s not counting my kids & my mom, whom I consider some of my closest friends.
I think the more honest you want a friend to be, the harder it is to keep them. Friends don’t talk behind each other’s backs…that was always the biggest problem I had with friends.
As for our friendship, I’m grateful we have met. Although we barely know each other, I do feel like I’ve known you for a long time. You’re a very special person.
Very nice post. I certainly agree. I do have such a friend, and am thankful for it. I posted on fridnships once, back in January and I think once even before that -however I failed to mention the most important thing. God.
Hello my friend! And I do count you as one and hope you count me as one too!
(I don’t comment much cause, well, I just don’t comment much anywhere! But I do stop by… I’ll try and do a better job of commenting!)
Iris, you hang in there. I know people in the church can be so hard to understand. I have struggled with that too. Since my husband is a pastor, it is common for people to treat us differently, but as soon as you do something they don’t agree with, they turn on you.
I have come to the place where I just have to expect it and have to forgive them…I guess I make mistakes too, after all. (easier to say than do, I know) It makes the true, tight friendships that God gives us along the way that more precious. It’s just hard to trust again in order to form those friendships. I hope you try again. It’s worth it when you find that pearl. =)
Christie
I think sometimes the ‘church’ has a hard time relating to people on a one-to-one basis, unfortunately.
Years and years ago, I found myself without a close group of women friends, and I made that a matter of prayers. Months later, I looked up and realized that God had provided what I needed, just not in the ways I had expected.
Hang in there.
You know I have to say that your are an awesome bunch. When I started blogging, I didn’t know where it would take me.
I know that I have some awesome ladies out there that are caring and lift me up. You ladies ROCK!!!!