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BFF (2)
'Each part ... helps the other parts grow' Ephesians 4:16
When we make bad choices, when life goes belly up, they say it's then we find out who our true friends are. True friends walk in when others walk out. Real friends don't care if your socks don't match or walk ten steps behind you if you're having a bad hair day. Real friends are those who, when you've made a fool of yourself, don't feel that you've done a permanent job.
But how do you stand by your friends when things go wrong, when situations become awkward or difficult? God wants us to work together to bring out the best in each other as, 'each part ... helps the other parts grow.'
But how can you bring out the best in your friend when it feels like they're bringing out the worst in you? When it looks like one of your friends is in serious trouble or heading that way - maybe you discover they're self harming, planning to run away, getting drunk every weekend, having unprotected sex, or always looking for a fight - we can do one of five things.
1) Ditch them - you've got plenty of other friends you don't need them;
2) Join them - you don't want anything to ruin the friendship, so you think behaving like them will help;
3) Act two-faced, being nice to their face but gossiping about them behind their back;
4) Pretend the problem will go away, carrying on as though nothing is wrong; or
5) Be honest with them, tell them you're concerned and do all you can to help. Proverbs 17:17 says 'a friend loves at all times' (NIV).
written by Bob Gass
'Each part ... helps the other parts grow' Ephesians 4:16
When we make bad choices, when life goes belly up, they say it's then we find out who our true friends are. True friends walk in when others walk out. Real friends don't care if your socks don't match or walk ten steps behind you if you're having a bad hair day. Real friends are those who, when you've made a fool of yourself, don't feel that you've done a permanent job.
But how do you stand by your friends when things go wrong, when situations become awkward or difficult? God wants us to work together to bring out the best in each other as, 'each part ... helps the other parts grow.'
But how can you bring out the best in your friend when it feels like they're bringing out the worst in you? When it looks like one of your friends is in serious trouble or heading that way - maybe you discover they're self harming, planning to run away, getting drunk every weekend, having unprotected sex, or always looking for a fight - we can do one of five things.
1) Ditch them - you've got plenty of other friends you don't need them;
2) Join them - you don't want anything to ruin the friendship, so you think behaving like them will help;
3) Act two-faced, being nice to their face but gossiping about them behind their back;
4) Pretend the problem will go away, carrying on as though nothing is wrong; or
5) Be honest with them, tell them you're concerned and do all you can to help. Proverbs 17:17 says 'a friend loves at all times' (NIV).
written by Bob Gass
