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True Friendships

We all have friends.  Some are friends that may have been with you for a lifetime.  Some you met in high school, college or even your job.  Some were made by going through a similar life event.  Some were accidental.  Some have let you down and no longer make it to friendship status.

But we all have friends.  And we all need them.  Each of my friends brings a unique quality to my life that I love so much and need so desperately.  Not each one is on the same "friendship level", though.  I have friends that know my deepest struggles, my biggest life adventures, my craziest pet peeves.  Others are my extremely funny ones that I can go to when I'm down knowing THEY will bring me back up.  And, honestly, some are surface friends.  More cordial acquaintances, if you will.  But each have an importance in my life.

Jesus had 12 very close friends the Bible refer to as his disciples.  Those men walked for three years with Him and knew Him in a deeply personal way.  They were front and center when He cried after another dear friend, Lazarus died.  They were there when He laughed and called the children to Him.  They were there in His exhaustion when He would get in a boat and sail away from the chaos for a little while.    They were with Him when a storm scared them and He was called on to calm the seas.  They sat as His feet as He taught them.  And, they watched in horror as their beloved friend was killed.

As I read March 14:32-42 this week about Jesus in Gethsemane right before He would be lead to His crucifixion, it reminded me about how lonely He must have been.  Only He and His Father understood with certainty what He was facing.  As much as He tried to explain it to His friends, they weren't grasping it.  Jesus faced the biggest fight of His life and His friends FELL ASLEEP.  He was begging them, needing them to support Him, desiring any one of them to hold HIM up as He has done so many times for them.  His world was crashing down and the three that were with Him slept.

But remember in Mark 4:35-41 when the storm came and Jesus was sleeping?!  They woke Him up in a huff and accused Him of not caring if they drowned!  Funny how the tables turned.

Even with many friends, we go through periods of loneliness, me included.  As I read this, I was reminded that even in my own time of loneliness, I need to look around to see who might need support.  Usually the one who needs the most support won't ask for it.  And, if they are asking for your friendship, don't fall asleep!  

AND, it is most important to not neglect our relationship with Jesus.  He desires to speak to you daily, to hear from you daily.  He loves you more than anyone in your "friend list", anyone in your contacts in your phone.  And He will be there when the storms come rolling in, sheltering you, loving you, comforting you. 

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