Friendship Takes Courage

“Sometimes you put walls up not to keep people out, but to see who cares enough to break them down.”

I do not know who said this quote, but there’s a ton of truth to it. I do not believe any friendship should require loads of maintenance or an abundance of drama, but every friendship can meet hard times, even the strongest.

“Putting up walls” is not always an intentional obstacle put in place for one to test another’s loyalty. Everyone makes mistakes and, of course, hindsight is 20/20. There comes times when one of these mistakes hurts another. Sometimes we are not always aware of it when it happens. It is the true friend who is willing to bring these wrongs to light and tear down those dreaded walls we have put up.

I thank the Lord for the friends I have who care enough to sometimes hurt my feelings for my own good. We hate these situations when we are in them. They make us feel miserable. But they truly can bring the peaceable fruits of righteousness. It’s much like a father who disciplines a son he loves dearly. It is not out of spite or anger but to bring up that child so that he can later discipline himself. We can learn from our mistakes but we must be made aware of our mistakes before that can happen.

What great courage it takes for one friend to admit he has been hurt by another. What great humility it shows when the friend at fault can admit he was wrong. I pray I can always think so clearly about friendship. I have no desire to ever hurt a friend, but I have even less desire to hurt them twice.

Do not be angry when a friend calls you out. Do not let pride swell up inside you. Be quick to hear and slow to speak. Choose your words carefully and know your friend does not mean you harm. He/she only wishes to tear down any barrier between you and improve the friendship.

[tags]friendship, friends, loyalty[/tags]

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