So, I had this deep theologically structured insight on “quiet times” prepared for the blog today and after typing the article twice…I decided to go a different direction. Yeah, I want to talk about friends…and no, not the hip, lower manhattan living, hilariously funny group that graced Thursday nights for some odd years, but MY friends.  I know…I know, the fact that I have any comes as a surprise to you.  To be honest, it surprises me too, because if I knew me, I wouldn’t be my friend.  Because real friendship is messy and takes a lot of time, understanding, and patience; all things I highly suck at.

I like the benefits of friendship.  I like them giving me time.  I like them investing in me.  But when it’s time to return the favor…I admittedly come short.  My friendships are a part of the everyday stuff that I struggle to give myself too. Like being there when they are having a hard time with their job, or praying for them when I promised to.  I mean…I have a job…I am busy…how can they expect all that from me? But that’s everyday stuff, huh? I mean, life doesn’t stop for everyone else because it’s not convenient for me, right?

Friendship is inconvenient.

In the past, I would have easily blown this stuff off and not worried about it…but now…I want to be a good friend.  I don’t want to take them for granted.  I want to be the person they can come to when life is getting hard (or harder than normal). I want them to know that I love them as much as they have shown love for me.

So, in the everyday, friendship can be hard…sometimes even something you don’t want to mess with.  But friends are important.  They encourage you…they balance you…they give a swift crack to the head sometimes when you need it. And they deserve the same kind of friend back.

I realized today that in the everyday…I have good friends…and I want to be a good friend!

What about you?