What is a friend?

Guest Post: Alan Smith

This is a group of friends who saw me off to one of my mission trips to Russia.  I could not have made the trip except the support of friends.  The Olympics have reminded me of the great friends I made on the multiple trips to Russia.  Thanks God for friends.

What Is a Friend?   Through the years, we have different ideas of what having a friend means to us. Someone has composed the following list, showing the way that friendship changes through the years: In kindergarten, your idea of a good friend was the person who let you have the red crayon when all that was left was the ugly black one. In first grade, your idea of a good friend was the person who went to the bathroom with you and held your hand as you walked through the scary halls. In second grade, your idea of a good friend was the person who helped you stand up to the class bully. In third grade, your idea of a good friend was the person who shared their lunch with you when you forgot yours on the bus. In fourth grade, your idea of a good friend was the person who was willing to switch square dancing partners in gym so you wouldn't have to be stuck do-si-do-ing with Nasty Nick or Smelly Susan. In fifth grade, your idea of a friend was the person who saved a seat on the back of the bus for you. In sixth grade, your idea of a friend was the person who went up to Nick or Susan, your new crush, and asked them to dance with you, so that if they said no you wouldn't have to be embarrassed. In seventh grade, your idea of a friend was the person who let you copy the social studies homework from the night before that you had forgotten about. In eighth grade, your idea of a good friend was the person who helped you pack up your stuffed animals and old baseball cards so that your room would be a "high-schooler's" room, but didn't laugh when you finished and broke into tears. In ninth grade, your idea of a good friend was the person who went with you to that "cool" party thrown by a senior so you wouldn't wind up being the only freshman there. In tenth grade, your idea of a good friend was the person who changed their schedule so you would have someone to sit with at lunch. In eleventh grade, your idea of a good friend was the person who gave you rides in their new car, convinced your parents that you shouldn't be grounded, and consoled you when you broke up with Nick or Susan. In twelfth grade, your idea of a good friend was the person who helped you pick out a college, assured you that you would get into that college, helped you deal with your parents who were having a hard time adjusting to the idea of letting you go. At graduation, your idea of a good friend was the person who was crying on the inside but managed the biggest smile one could give as they congratulated you. Now, your idea of a good friend is still the person who gives you the better of the two choices, holds your hand when you're scared, helps you fight off those who try to take advantage of you, thinks of you at times when you are not there, reminds you of what you have forgotten, helps you put the past behind you but understands when you need to hold on to it a little longer, stays with you so that you have confidence, goes out of their way to make time for you, helps you clear up your mistakes, helps you deal with pressure from others, smiles for you when they are sad, helps you become a better person, and most importantly loves you! Solomon had several things to say as well about what it means to be a friend. A friend is loyal. "There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." (Proverbs 18:24) A friend is someone who will hang in there with you when the going gets tough. "A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity." (Proverbs 17:17) A friend will give you good advice. "Ointment and perfume delight the heart, and the sweetness of a man's friend does so by hearty counsel." (Proverbs 27:9) A friend will be honest with you. "Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful." (Proverbs 27:6) How does a person get friends like that? Solomon tells us how. "A man who has friends must himself be friendly..." (Proverbs 18:24) May God bless us with many wonderful friends, but, more importantly, may God help us to be the kind of friend we need to be to others. Have a great day! Alan Smith