Friendship! We were not created to be alone, we all need friends. Sometimes in leadership we look to others to be our friends, to reach out to us vs. us being willing to be the ones to reach out to others. Solomon said in Prov 18:24a “A man who has friends must himself be friendly…” NKJV. I take that to mean that one of the requirements for me to have meaningful relationships around me is for me to be a meaningful relationship to someone else.
But then Solomon adds that there is another type of friend, Prov 18:24b“…But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” NKJV. A brother can’t get out because he is family and there is something strong about family.
A true friend is not the one who is there just for the good times. It is the one who stays when everyone else is leaving, believing when everyone else lost hope, encouraging when others say it is hopeless. The true friend is the one who is willing to get some skin in the game when you are not on top of yours. The one who is willing to sit with you through the dark night waiting for morning vs. the one who says, “Call me in the morning.”
A true friend is one who;
Loves you when you are unlovable…
Hugs you when you are pushing away…
Believes in you when you are unbelievable…
Hopes when you are hopeless…
Encourages when you are discouraged…
Is faithful when you are faithless…
A seasonal friend, can change with the weather or circumstances whereas a foundational friend is one who can be built upon. The choice is yours. One thing we can be sure of, seasons will change. The real question is are you the type of friend who will be able to weather it!
D.O.V.E.