Scripture: As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17)
“What steps have you taken to seek reconciliation or to connect?,” a friend asked me. She was talking about a broken family relationship. Even though I avoided talking about it, my friend always asked me for an update. She knew this relationship was important and didn’t want me to give up on it.
Friends are great to hang out with, but even more so for the accountability and encouragement they provide. Accountability means they will ask me the hard questions and hold me accountable to living in such a way that pleases God. When I am struggling, they come along and lovingly support me, challenge me, encourage me. To me, these are the marks of true friendship.
International students to the U.S. often rightly observe that individualism is a trait of Americans. That is true: Americans in general have the expectation that each person has his or her own personality and dream. It is less about the family or community. Yet God intended for us to live in community and to share our stories.
What would you do if someone tells you the truth and challenges you? Recognize that this may be a true friend! Proverbs 27:6 advises, “Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.”
“What steps have you taken to seek reconciliation or to connect?,” a friend asked me. She was talking about a broken family relationship. Even though I avoided talking about it, my friend always asked me for an update. She knew this relationship was important and didn’t want me to give up on it.
Friends are great to hang out with, but even more so for the accountability and encouragement they provide. Accountability means they will ask me the hard questions and hold me accountable to living in such a way that pleases God. When I am struggling, they come along and lovingly support me, challenge me, encourage me. To me, these are the marks of true friendship.
International students to the U.S. often rightly observe that individualism is a trait of Americans. That is true: Americans in general have the expectation that each person has his or her own personality and dream. It is less about the family or community. Yet God intended for us to live in community and to share our stories.
What would you do if someone tells you the truth and challenges you? Recognize that this may be a true friend! Proverbs 27:6 advises, “Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.”