A lot of people don’t know how to be good friends.
Mutual respect, genuine love, trust, consistency, and loyalty are traits hard
to come by. I haven’t had too many friendships that consisted of those things. I
have however, had plenty of shallow
ones. Shallow, consisting of everything from hundreds of social media friends I
don’t consider to be real friends, some
peers I may have shared classes with, people I’ve attended church services
with, a handful of folks I have things in common with, and some who I’ve met in
passing. See the differences? One morning, I thought about all the different
friends that have come in and out of my life, and the first thing I thought
was, we were friends for a season and
that’s okay. Whenever I’ve considered someone a friend, I really loved them. Which is why no
matter whom they were or how we parted ways, I always felt those voids when things
unexpectedly shifted. Most of the time some of my ended friendships weren’t
instant, we’re over, cases but many times, there were things that gradually led to parting ways. Life stuff
like college, jobs, serious relationships, kids, and careers caused some of us
to drift apart, but I really felt the
distance as I grew closer to God and I felt even more discomfort when…
I was always the one reaching out first with no
reciprocity in return.
my phone only rang or had incoming texts when
someone only wanted or needed something.
some friends traded up.
some of my friends got into partying (and while I
did partake) I ultimately wasn’t about that life.
a former friend hooked up with a guy I was talking
to and thought I didn’t know about it.
my texts were ignored.
some of my friends went out without inviting me, only
later for me to see their good time posted all over social media.
I hugged a friend like it would be the last time,
because to my surprise, it would be
the last time.
I said I love
you and it wasn’t said back.
some of them walked away with no warning or
explanations.
I had to learn how to do my own thing and be my own best friend, and you know what? I love her, because even when people
haven’t stuck around, she knows whenever it gets down to her and God, she’ll be
just fine. Every friend I’ve ever had has left me with some unforgettable and
special memories, I’ll never forget. A lot of us were just friends for a season
and that’s okay. Being able to recognize that, eases my spirit, and makes it
easier to no longer associate the title of friend
to people who aren’t worthy.
There are friends who destroy each other, but a real
friend sticks closer than a brother – Proverbs 18:24