Friday, June 7, 2013

On friendship and love

I was 30 before I really began to understand friendship.  And, as with anything, it has been a growing process.  My 30 year old understanding of friendship is different than my 39 year old understanding.

Funny...  (Or God timing?)  This blog post popped into mind as my heart overflowed with LOVE for a dear friend as I prayed for her this morning.  Prayed over something so deeply personal and emotional, you can only share it with your closest and most trusted friends.  I am beyond blessed by the trust we share, and in the gift of getting to carry this burden with her through prayer.  I'm blessed to get to encourage her - to walk beside her - as she takes this journey.  And I'm blessed by the fact that I can (and have) popped in, called, texted and emailed her with ANY and EVERY need, EVER.  And she has walked beside me every step of the way.  Generously, without fail.

Precious friend.

But I couldn't have friendships like this without first understanding LOVE.

Love.  Our first fruit that we'll begin studying as a family next week!  (Oh, that God...  He's never early, never late, and always working, isn't He?)

Maybe I'll wade into our virtue a little today.  Seems like a pretty natural way to begin our study.

As I researched yesterday in preparation for our Fruits of the Spirit summer, I came across this:

"When God's spirit is at work, amazing things happen.  The person's whole life blossoms and bears beautiful fruit.  The most wonderful fruit is the giving and receiving of true love."

Truer words were never spoken.

Discovering that love is not merely a feeling or emotion (and certainly not a weapon)...and learning to generously give and fearlessly receive love...has been a most significant life changer for me.

Praise the Lord!

Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God.  1 John 4:7

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.  John 15:13

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this, all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.  John 13:34-35

1 comment:

Joann Brown said...

Wonderful, meaningful writing as always. Love you and your family, even though I do not know them. Just knowing you and what you are pouring into them, makes me know that they have a great start in life. And you have your best friend beside you. Love you Aunt Jo