friends...

A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Proverbs 18:24

One of our family's favorite movies is "Toy Story". At the beginning of the film, Woody instructs all of the toys in Andy's room to pick a "moving buddy" so that no one gets left behind when the family moves. We often hear of using the "buddy system" for safety.
Friend. Amiga. Vriend. Ami. Freund. Amico. In any language, one is lucky to be blessed to have one good friend in this world. I'm not talking about the 100 acquaintances you have - superficial relationships that don't mean a whole lot when bad times come and you need someone to pray with. We all have those, don't we? I'm talking about the friend who knows you -- warts and all. Knows the hidden secrets of your heart, knows your struggles and your victories, knows how to pray for you and does without having to be asked.
So often in our busy lives we have begun to neglect the simple art of making -and keeping- friendships. Friendships require work, just like any relationship. You cannot ignore it; it must be nurtured and tended. We get so bogged down with the day to day stuff of life -- you know, homeschoooling and homemaking and working....that we just flat out are too tired at the end of the day to make time for our families, let alone work on a friendship.
But we were created for companionship, for community. Study after study shows that people who have deep, personal relationships are healthier and live longer than those who don't. Our souls literally crave company. The simple act of a human touch can make the difference between a premature infant thriving and growing or not.
Today, instead of thinking about picking up the phone and calling someone, actually do it. Instead of emailing that person, send a handwritten note. Invite someone over for coffee. Slow down and take the time to actually converse with someone. The laundry will still be there tomorrow, trust me!
And if you are one of the many that don't have a good friend, pray that God would send you that friend that "sticks closer than a brother."
"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."