When I was a pre-teen/young teenager, I felt very lonely. At that time I didn't have many friends my age who I truly connected with. I have always been different than most people my age (think fourteen-year-old homeschooler who believes she can change the world and wants to talk about ending human trafficking, not boys or the latest style trends). On top of that I was a crazy extrovert who was more sociable than a lot of my public schooled friends (shocking, right?). Because of these things I felt distant and disconnected from my peers. I craved a deeper connection than what I was being offered. And while that wasn't a bad thing, my thinking that a deeper friendship would satisfy me was a bad thing. I thought that if I had at least just one friend who was as deep and passionate as I was, then I wouldn't be lonely anymore. I made friendship all about me. And the truth is that friendship isn't really just about me at all. Friendship is more about what we give to it, instead of what we get from it. This is totally opposite thinking from a world that claims everything is about us and how we feel. When we shift our thinking about friendship, things change. Instead of thinking, "I really wish they were more like me," or "I really wish she would think about my feelings right now," let's change our thought patterns. Instead ask ourselves, "How can I serve my friend today?" or "What ways can I be there for my friend?" God didn't create friendship to satisfy you, because He wants to use friendship to grow you. Placing all of our hope in a friendship to complete us and make us happy will only hurt us in the end. We are only made to be complete in Christ. Friendship is a beautiful gift. I look around at the friends God has blessed me with now and I'm humbled and amazed by these beautiful, wonderful women I call "friend." However, friendship is also a gift I must give away. A gift I must extend to someone else. I have to be the friend I want to have. My goal in friendship should be to serve, give, and love unconditionally. In Proverbs 27:17 it says: "As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend." Just as a godly, sweet friendship encourages and challenges us to pursue more of Jesus, we must also be willing to become a friend that encourages and challenges someone else to pursue more of Jesus. If you're feeling lonely today, look around you at the people God has placed in your life. Who can you reach out to today and be a friend? Who can you serve and give love to? You'll be amazed at the things God will do, when you give the gift of friendship.
10 Comments
Brianna
10/16/2017 08:52:57 am
I'm convicted.
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Bella Morganthal
10/16/2017 05:25:05 pm
<3
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Grace F.
10/16/2017 12:55:24 pm
DEFINITELY so true! I have found that becoming friends with ladies in many different age groups really brings out the service/ministry aspect of friendships. If you get out of your peer bubble, all of a sudden, you have to get out of your comfort zone in what you talk about. Then you learn so much more from those with different life experiences! It's definitely a huge blessing to have friends in every age group.
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Bella Morganthal
10/16/2017 05:26:36 pm
Yes, totally agree with that! And you do learn so much more outside of your peer bubble :) (I like that term xD)
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Anna P.
10/16/2017 03:44:26 pm
This is an awesome blog post, Bella!! I really enjoy reading your blog. Thank you for writing and encouraging others (including me!)
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Bella Morganthal
10/16/2017 05:27:06 pm
Aw, Anna, you're so sweet! Thank you! <3
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Olivia Bell (aka Livy)
10/16/2017 08:10:33 pm
What a sweet and true post, Bella! When I saw the title, I knew it would be a good one! You certainly have blessed me with your gift of friendship, it is so precious to me! =)
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Bella Morganthal
10/16/2017 08:25:13 pm
Aww thank you so much, Liv! And you too, what a gift you are!
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10/17/2017 01:35:46 pm
I can't began to tell you how much this blessed me. This was a beautiful article and I thank you for it.
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Bella Morganthal
10/17/2017 06:04:58 pm
Aw thank you so much, Chloe! That means a lot! <3
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