Last weekend, I attended the celebration of life service for a lifelong friend. Some of my first memories of my friend go back to preschool. She was older, and she captured my attention with her friendliness. I named one of my dolls after her. Later, I served as her “page” in a church missions recognition service. I carried her crown.
I’ve thought a lot about my friend in recent months. As I watched her decline, I grieved the loss, but rejoiced knowing she was about to take up residence in her eternal home. I reminisced about times we traveled together, taught together, wrote together, cried together and laughed together.
The day Jim died, I called this sweet friend late that night, later than is acceptable, but she answered on the first ring. She allowed me to talk and process what happened that day. We cried together, and then, she prayed for me.
Good friends are a gift from God, and I am blessed to call many “friend.”
Following are a few characteristics of a good friend:
Consistent
Good friends are consistent. Even if you go for months, or years, without seeing them or talking to them, when you are together again, it’s as if no time has lapsed. Even if separated by distance or time, a good friend continues to care about you, pray for you, and love you.
Compassionate
Sometimes, at a time when you need them most, friends disappear. When you face life difficulties, true friends come along side you, comforting and supporting.
Confidant
Are you a good listener? A friend listens closely without overriding your words with advice. A good friend is someone in whom you can confide without fear of having what you say passed on to others. A good friend is trustworthy.
Challenges
Good friends challenge us to sustain forward motion. A good friend risks offending us by speaking the truth in love, pushing us beyond self-pity, perceived weaknesses, or fear. Faithful friends challenge us to put forth our best effort, even when the task seems daunting. A good friend encourages and acts as a cheerleader when times are tough.
Forgiving
Friends forgive each other. Recognizing the humanness in all of us, friends willingly overlook offense. Longtime friends are forward-looking, cherishing years of togetherness, forgiving hurts, and anticipating future joys.
Faithful
A faithful friend is long-suffering, patient with our faults and loving us despite them. Faithful friends model a faithful God, who knows the worst in us, but never withdraws his patient love and forgiveness.
Are you a good, faithful friend?
“As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend” (Proverbs 27:17 NLT).
“Friends come and friends go, but a true friend sticks by you like family” (Proverbs 18:24 MSG).
©CandyArrington
Candy Arrington is an award-winning writer, blogger, and speaker. She often writes on tough topics with a focus on moving through, and beyond, difficult life circumstances. Candy has written hundreds of articles, stories, and devotions published by numerous outlets including: Inspiration.org, Arisedaily.com, CBN.com, Healthgrades.com, Care.com, Focus on the Family, NextAvenue.org, CountryLiving.com, and Writer’s Digest. Candy’s books include Life on Pause: Learning to Wait Well (Bold Vision Books), When Your Aging Parent Needs Care (Harvest House), and AFTERSHOCK: Help, Hope, and Healing in the Wake of Suicide (B&H Publishing Group).
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