Friends

I have been reading in II Samuel.  The end of the book in Chapter 23 talks about David’s mighty men.  It goes into detail about how these men fought for King David and even risked their lives to go through enemy lines to bring him back some water from the well at Bethlehem.  It also talks of Thirty seven men who were very important to him, surrounded him, and protected him.  That is so essential to our well-being.  We all need, (crave), those friends that will stick with us through everything.  Do you have that?  Maybe not thirty seven, but even one or two?

I was reading awhile ago about Mary the Mother of Jesus.  She was the only one that was present at His birth and His death.  It says in Acts one that Jesus and His twelve friends, the disciples, “joined together constantly in prayer along with the women and Mary the Mother of Jesus and His brothers.”  I think that is cool.  Jesus had a vital group of friends that were with him in life and in prayer.  Now it doesn’t say specifically who those women were but I could guess that Mary had her own band of special women that surrounded her to encourage her with prayer as well.  Mary had been told that Jesus’ life would not be easy.  If I were her, I would need a bunch of women to help my grieving heart deal with all that was to befall my son Jesus.

I know life is crazy and so very busy, but I think friendships, really good meaningful ones, are something that we need to make time for.  Friends that will bring you soup when you are sick, pray with you through a tough decision, let you know when you are out of line, make you laugh when you only feel like crying, drive you to a doctor’s appointment, remember days that are special to you, love you no matter what…Do you have that?  If you don’t, you should make it one of your New Year’s resolutions.

And if you have an invaluable friend like that, treasure them.  Don’t take for granted what God has blessed you with.

Be that kind of friend to them.

Rachel