A FRIEND

Dear reader,

Friends, they shape us and affect us in ways we see and don’t , it’s amazing that they contribute to about 70% if not more of our growth . They have effect on us more than we know. They are key influences of our growth , in all areas; spiritually, educationally, financially, whatever it may be . The friends we have tell a lot about our now and our tomorrow.

Who are our friends ? Many People have different ways to define who a friend is , and for me, I would say, a friend is someone who will help discipline and correct me even at the expense of our friendship , someone I can pray with , cry with , laugh with , fight with and settle with. Someone that sticks closer than a brother, a true friend.

The reason I added someone I can fight and settle with is , you can fight with someone and genuinely never settle with them or let go of the problem . There are certain people no matter how much we try to remain friends with , one argument can destroy it all , and i believe it’s because we’ve not learned to love despite, in that friendship.

We will be quick to say some things are not worth forgiving, and that is why I would ask, should we marry our friend ? I mean, how many divorces and traumas are we preparing for if we can’t value our everyday friendships ? I’m going to divert a little and say, we enter marriage sometimes as we enter friendships , we don’t take it seriously anymore , that’s why it’s soo easy to get a divorce these days , why ? We say because, “we don’t love each other anymore”, Really ?

This is a task I’m willing to take up, for everyone i call a friend, i must be willing to act as though we are married , lol, without the romance of course . Let’s think deeply about it , let it be like a contract, if I’m calling you my friend, you must be someone I’ve gotten to know , you must have values, be upright , and when situations and problems spring up , we are stuck together ! I’m serious, this will make you think and be selective and careful of those we call friends. I mean, why would the bible say a ,” friend ” is closer than a brother ? You have lived with a brother all your life ! You are not about to let just anybody be called a friend now are you ? Our siblings are gold and precious to us , and for you to seemingly have a deeper bond perhaps with me than I do with my sibling, it’s not a joke, it is to be taken seriously. In As much as we know A lot of people, it doesn’t make them all friends, also, as much as we like people , doesn’t mean we Marry all, right ?

Let’s take up this task together and start to carefully and cautiously select our friends, let’s remember, it’s like a marriage contract, similar ! I believe this will also help us when it’s time to get married for us who are single and for my lovely married people this challenge will help us value our spouse more, why ? Your spouse is first your friend before anything, one thing I’ve learnt from those I look up to.

A friend is someone you can pray with , I would say , it’s someone that even when we fight , and argue with , we can always go to the pillar and foundation of our relationship (God) and he will settle it, genuinely, in both hearts. For it’s one thing to think we’ve let go of a hurt , it’s another to actually let go .

Not all people are meant to be in our lives forever however , there are friends for seasons … I’m saying, whichever season you are in , whoever is your friend now , should be adding value , character, goodness to you. Someone who will help push you to the next level , and when it’s time for you to succeed, let’s you fly as an eagle and succeed . Someone you can be yourself with and still will never allow you do wrong and withdraw from correcting you . Someone who supports you together with your dreams and although they may do wrong to you at times, they learn to cherish your heart carefully the next time , even though they know what hurts you , they respect you and not use it against you when situations spring up. Someone who is for you. Someone who sticks closer than a brother, a true friend.

We should however, also learn to be a friend that sticks closer than a brother to others .

Would you join me in this task ? I challenge you today .

By the way, something amazing is coming up, watch out 😃.

Yours truly ,

Sharon Paulina Boye

15th August, 2018 .