As I write this blog, I’m painfully aware that I’ve made more than my share of mistakes with friendships. I’ve fallen short in terms of being consistent, not expressing myself well, being impatient, insecurity struggles & loads more.
And because I’ve been reading Job for a few weeks now, I’m watching his friends and their interactions with Job, noting some stuff to avoid. Here are some things that might be helpful to you:
- Listen to understand more than reply: Job’s friends sat with him for 7days before they ever said a word.
- Presence trumps absence: Job’s friends didn’t run away when his life went into a cataclysmic meltdown. Let’s be careful that we’re not fair weather friends
- Compassion is better than criticism: Job’s friends looked for his secret faults as a cause for his suffering, but they were skinny on compassion. When our friends go through horrendous experiences, it’s more loving to be compassionate than look for & point out their flaws & failures.
Here’s to friendship & how God helps us grow in “iron sharpening iron” friendships, based on Prov 27:17 
