Friends, strength and hard times

Today: Job 5-7

One year ago today was one of the weirdest, most awful days I can remember. April 15, 2009 has branded its mark on my life and the lives of about 900 other people. It changed us.

I think Job went through a time far worse than what I faced. As we saw in yesterday's passage, all of his children died, he lost his income and he broke out in very painful sores from head to toe. And to top it off, most of Job's friends were completely unhelpful. Take a look at what Job said here:

...you, my so-called friends, are no better—

there's nothing to you!

One look at a hard scene and you shrink in fear.

It's not as though I asked you for anything—

I didn't ask you for one red cent—

Nor did I beg you to go out on a limb for me.

So why all this dodging and shuffling?...

Are people mere things to you?

Are friends just items of profit and loss?

Ouch.

It would be easy for me to rant about the evil of these kinds of friends--the fair weather friends who are absent or even critical during hard times. But how many times have I not made a phone call, set up time for coffee or visited someone else in trouble...simply because it wasn't convenient for me?

Hard times are uncomfortable. And rather than face that discomfort with a friend, many people just avoid tough situations (and the people in them) altogether. Sometimes your friends don't even need you to say or buy anything--they just need you to be there.

Though I am far from a perfect friend, I am continually amazed and thankful for the incredible friends in my life. Tonight some of these incredible friends met to celebrate the end of a life-altering year--and the fact that we're still friends who not only survived, but grew stronger. Through our hard times, we laughed, called, prayed and encouraged one another. That's what friends do.

Tomorrow: Job 8-10

Friend love

Today: 1 Samuel 18-20

This weekend many people will celebrate a holiday. Some refer to it as Singles' Awareness Day...which is just SAD. :) For others, it's simply Valentine's Day, a time to be celebrate love. They may buy cheesy gifts like the Hug-E-Gram or a giant stuffed gorilla that's the size of a three-year old. Or they may simply treasure a perfect moment with someone else and think, "How did I ever get so lucky? So blessed? To experience this kind of love?"

But do you remember when Valentine's Day was a little more simple--and yet, still amazing--for virtually everyone?

I remember elementary school Valentine's Day parties where my classmates and I decorated special envelopes with our names. I brought cards (and usually candy) for every kid in my class. I thought carefully and wrote something completely deep and poetic on every card...like "You're cool." or just "Your friend, Jonita." But didn't it feel amazing to get cards from 24 other kids?!? To celebrate the simple love of friends?

The love we have with and for our friends can be very simple...or deep...in its beauty. Friendship is a special kind of love. It's something that we can choose, but yet some friendships have the fingerprints of being God-ordained.

I loved reading about the friendship of David and Jonathan in today's passage. Though his father tried to murder David, Jonathan's friendship with David was so strong that it outweighed family ties. Take a look at his words here:

"...May God do his worst to me if I let you down!

If my father still intends to kill you,

I'll tell you and get you out of here in one piece.

And God be with you as he's been with my father!

If I make it through this alive, continue to be my covenant friend.

And if I die, keep the covenant friendship with my family—forever.

And when God finally rids the earth of David's enemies, stay loyal to Jonathan!"

Jonathan repeated his pledge of love and friendship for David.

He loved David more than his own soul!

Wow. The friend love of David and Jonathan was defined by commitment and sacrifice. Those are gifts that definitely beat Hug-E-Grams. :) Be that kind of friend. And if you have experienced friend love like that, consider yourself amazingly blessed. Take a moment to say "thank you" or send an actual card (not an e-mail). I promise--even if it says, "You're cool", a true friend will appreciate it.

P.S. BONUS! Last year, I wrote a little bit more about the friendship of David & Jonathan--check out this post called "Super Sidekicks."

Tomorrow: 1 Samuel 21-24