"A friend loves at all times." Proverbs 17:17

One of my favorite things in the entire world is community.

I truly believe, through the depths of my being, that God did not create us to live alone and to be alone. In fact, that is why he created Eve after he created Adam! While most people think that generally refers to marriage, I think it can refer to friendship as well.

I am reading Bittersweet, by Shauna Niequist right now.

It's so good. I love how real Shauna is. Her voice is so relevant, and she is gifted with putting Jesus' teachings in today's world, and is so good at sharing her story.

Last night, I read the story "The Closer You Get." It's about how even when you think you are as close to some of your friends as possible, "the closer you get, the closer you get."

At one point in her story, she says "You know this doesn't happen over and over in your life. You don't get that many experiences of friendship like the one you all share" (Pg. 32).

I know that this is a true statement. That being said, I have been so incredibly blessed with many different friends in my life. And throughout those close relationships, I have found that the strongest of those have been those founded in Christ. Those friendships anchored in God have given me strength, those people have seen me at my worst, and I know they are always there for me. In Cold Tangerines, Shauna says,

 "That's what friendship looks like to me. Friendship is acting out God's love in tangible ways. We were made to represent the love of God in each other's lives, so that each person we walk though life with has a more profound sense of God's love for them. Friendship is an opportunity to act on God's behalf in the lives of people that we're close to, reminding each other who God is. When we do the hard, intimate work of friendship, we bring a little more of the divine into daily life. We get to remind one another about the bigger, more beautiful picture that we can't always see from where we are" (From "Swimming," Pg. 49).

To those people whom I've had friendships like this with, I cannot even begin to express my gratitude to you. I am so blessed to have known you and I cannot thank you enough for helping me grow in my faith.

I hope to be this kind of friend. I hope that every person I come in contact with leaves a better person, more sure of the love God has for them. I believe that having a community of friends in Christ makes us stronger as Christians and as individuals. I pray to God that I can let him act through me, and that I can be an instrument of His love. True, Christ-like friendship is hard work. But when we put forth the effort, we make the world a brighter place, and we act as God intended us to.