Jeff is a friend of mine. For Christmas, he gave me a magnetic sign that attaches to the truck door. It is unlike any sign I’ve ever seen before. The words are listed below.
PREACHER FOR HIRE
Weddings, Funerals, Exorcisms, and Snake Charming
General Fleecing of the Flock
Yep. That’s the kind of friends I have. This got me thinking.
When I first saw the sign, I thought it would be a good idea to upgrade my friend’s list. Clearly something was wrong. Then I started thinking about friendship.
According to Psychology Today, there are six rules necessary for healthy friendships.
- Support, trust, and honesty are givens.
- Listen to your friends.
- Ditch the judgment.
- Don’t talk behind a friend’s back.
- Respect your friends – and their boundaries.
- Forgive where you can – and seek forgiveness when you screw up.
So, even though I may be tempted to delete Jeff from my friend’s list, outside of a sense of humor that is as warped as mine, he qualifies.
I hope you have friends because they are the ones who will always be there for you. They are gifts from God.
This is what the wisest of all people meant by saying, “One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” (Proverbs 18:24)
To have good friends and to be a good friend is one of God’s greatest blessings.
Prayer: Dear Gracious Heavenly God, thank you for loving me. Help me never take my friends for granted. Help me to be a good friend. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Friends matter. Become one.
Also, now that I’ve had a few minutes to think about it, the only thing I would have added to Jeff’s sign to make it even more accurate are the words, “Performs Miracles” but that would be showing off and I am very modest.
I pray your day is filled with joy and laughter.
Tom Robbins
Daily Devotionals by Dr. Tom Robbins 