Our Journey Continues: Gift #2

“Friendship is unnecessary, 
like philosophy, like art… 
It has no survival value; 
rather it is one of those things 
that give value to survival.”
~C. S. Lewis ~

The Gift of Friendship...

Yesterday we looked at the gift of the "Holy Spirit" and Jesus' gift to us, "His death on the cross". Today, I want to share yet another gift you can't but when you experience it, your life is forever changed. Yesterday's gift changes your spiritual life, with the Power to overflow into your everyday life.

Today's gift of "friendship" is summed up best in the C.S. Lewis quote above, it's unnecessary but gives value to our life while here on earth. This past week has been one of hustle and bustle. There is the everyday activities of work, groceries, and laundry with the additions of special luncheons, evening gatherings and holiday baking. The specialness of the additions, is the friends in which we spend time with to celebrate these moments.

Friendship doesn't come in a box. You can't contain it in a box or place a bow on it to make it look beautiful. Friendship is a genuine, heartfelt, loving, and special relationship between two people with similar interests. Notice I didn't say, the same, but instead...similar.

---

"For You shaped me, inside and out.
    You knitted me together in my mother’s womb
long before I took my first breath. 
I will offer You my grateful heart, 
for I am Your unique creation, 
filled with wonder and awe.
    You have approached even the 
smallest details with excellence;
    Your works are wonderful;
I carry this knowledge deep within my soul."
Psalm 139:13-14 VOICE

I don't know about you, but some of my closest friends don't have the same interests and attitudes as me. We like similar things. We have similar hobbies and taste in music or movies yet when you look at us as individuals, we are so very different. It's the differences that compliment our friendships, the reason it works so well. You need a little variety to keep things from getting boring.

I'm thankful for my friends and the variety of friendships I have. If I'm in the mood to sit and crochet or craft, there are a couple friends that instantly come to mind. If I'm in the mood to just chillax on the deck with or watch a movie, another is the one I'd call. When I'm at my breaking point and just need to release some of the pressure, stress, and overwhelming feelings...there are those I can share with, knowing it stays in confidence and they join me in prayer. Sometimes, praying together, to the Holy Spirit, to intercede as we know not how to pray.

"Finally, the real definition of a true friend comes from the Apostle Paul: 
"For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; 
yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, 
in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:7-8). "Greater love has no one than this, 
than to lay down one’s life for his friends" (John 15:13). 
Now, that is true friendship!"
http://www.gotquestions.org/true-friendship.html

While you can't unwrap a physical gift 
as it relates to friendship, 
if you open your heart, 
you can experience, embrace, and share it.

How does your closest friendship
impact your life?