what makes a good friend?

Oh friends.

Aren't they just the reason that our lives are both wonderful and chaotic at the same time?

For me, it’s been a journey and God has used the concept of friends and my actual relationships with people to teach me a lot.

Today I want to touch on some of the things that make a good, quality friend. 

A lot of times, our closest friends are those we never expected to come into our life, and they are a beautiful blessing. Just like I know I’ve mentioned many times before, you have to let solid relationships/friendships form naturally. When you push friendships and try to make them more than they really are at the moment, they will not be strong.

I met a girl who goes to my Church who is an incredibly awesome person, and we all joke about everyone needs “a little *insert her name* in their life”.

However I think her influence can sometimes be negative on me. It’s not really her, but it’s more of her view of what is important in life being different than mine so sometimes I tend to start to catch myself thinking that way too. She tends to be more of a worldly influence on me than a one that is pointing me back to Christ and how he wants me to live.

I guess my point in saying that is that setting standards for who you are going to spend the most time with and who you will call your best friend is very important.

They should have some of these characteristics:

1. A friend who will always be there

Don't find a friend who will be there just be there during the fair seasons of life or just when they need something from you. Find friends who are willing to stick by you during the storms of life (and you for them as well).

2. A friend who makes you a better person

 You don't want to be friends with someone whose influence on you is questionable. Your closest friends should be those who know how to make you laugh but also point you back to Christ. Encouraging you, praying for you and really pouring time into you are things your closest friends should be willing to do for you, and you for them.  

3. A friend who is honest and trustworthy 

If there is no trust in a friendship, or if you aren't sure if they're going to keep your secrets, that's not someone you should call your best friend. Going along with that, honesty is so important in realizing that we are all sinners but Christ has set us free from sin. Your best friend shouldn't be someone who pretends to have it all together but is encouraging others because she is going through the same struggles. 

4. A friend who accepts you for who you are

We all have a weird side. Your closest friends should not only embrace you for who you are, but encourage you to be yourself. There are some people who think that being weird is...well, not something you should do. If someone doesn't like you for who you are, they don't need to be your best friend. Ever. 

We should always be striving to become a better friend. We can always improve in loving, putting others needs before our own, and truly listening to someone. We should not only look for these characteristics in who we call our best friends, but we should also be looking to improve these characteristics in ourselves.