Friendship is a gift from God. It's not something I take very lightly. I've had lots of friends in the past, but over the past few years I've thought about how valuable I should start considering friendship to be. Something that bothers me is when I hear someone tell a lot of people that they're his or her best friend. Not that you can't have more than one best friend, but when someone uses it so loosely like that, it makes me wonder if that person truly has one person they can call the best of all friends; their person, for all you "Grey's Anatomy" fans. Being someone's best friend isn't all sleepovers and gossiping. There's so much more to it than that.
This person I speak of should be like a sibling to you. And I don't mean you barely know them and you're already saying "OMG, we're like sisters." I mean like blood is the only thing keeping them from being related to you. Aside from your family, this is your go-to person in life.
I'm pretty introverted. I don't like to go out and actively seek new people to meet in my spare time. My resting face is blank while a lot of other people's are a smile, so a lot of times people ask me why I'm mad or confused. I'm not; it's just my face. This is one reason a lot of people don't exactly go out and actively seek me to meet in their spare time either, but I'm OK with that. Most people wouldn't be, but I am. The reason for this is that I know the few who do stick around to actually get to know me are the ones that actually care and vice versa. I think a best friend is someone who sees more in you than just the exterior. They can see Christ working in you and want you to succeed in fulfilling His plan for your life. They don't give up on you after you've made one mistake... or five... or a million. They know people make mistakes and that you're no different, except that you won't give up on them either.
The most important part of a friendship, however, above everything else, is that both of you have the same best friend together: Christ. You two have talked to Him about anything and everything both separately and together, in the good times and bad. In order to have the best friendship of all time, accountability and encouragement in faith are vital. You know each other's flaws, strengths, insecurities, fears, and beliefs. You have to know all of that and more about each other in a friendship, but to take that information and use it to encourage them for who they are in Christ is what makes a best friendship. It's one of the most uplifting and humbling relationships you'll have in your life. Don't take it for granted; it doesn't happen very often. I was blessed tremendously to have grown up with a small group of people I call my best friends. And I know that no matter where we end up, we will always be praying for each other, sharing the best (sometimes weirdest) memories, and encouraging each other in our walks and ministries. That is what true friendship should be.
