A Thanks to Those I Value

As I finish packing up every single possession of mine, not leaving a single thing remaining in my room of old, I am surprised of the thoughts that slowly pass through my head. This is the house I have spent 20 years of my life in. And this was the very room where have rested my body, mind, heart and soul each night as I slowly became the person I am today. I am not overcome by any sense of sadness leaving, the emotions I am feeling looking at all of the blank white walls are not the typical “home sick already” type. The only thing I can focus on, as I leave this stage of my life, are the memories of all of the different friends that have come and shared this dwelling place with me. All of the friends that have come, gone, and stayed in my life throughout all of the years. For whatever reason that is what I am associating with my room: Friendship. 

I have had over a hundred different close friends in my life, that is my honest estimate when I go back as far as I can remember. Some I no longer speak to. Some I left on the ground bleeding following friendship ending scurries. Some I chased around in my truck, pleading for a chance to make amends. Some disappeared from my life, and fell to the consequences of drugs and alcohol. Some friends moved away. Some friends stabbed me in the back, and speechlessly left me alone. Some still keep in touch, but only rarely. Some don’t answer my calls or reply to my texts. Some only call when they need something. Some call me still, 3-4 times a week. Some would spend each second with me were they not going to college across the country. And some I still have the privilege of seeing ever-so frequently.

As terrible as this will now sound, when I think about it I can only truly recognize only a few that have stood the test of time-- only a few that have never failed me, constantly showing me a love I hardly deserve. It is on these select few friends that I have become overwhelmingly focused on tonight. My trail of thought reaching this point is absurd, I realize; but I am truly overwhelmed thinking of these people. 

The most important part of this all is that I can’t help but think of these select few friends without praising God. The Bible says, "A man that hath friends must show himself friendly" (Prov. 18: 24). I think, aside from clinging to my faith, that one of the main reasons I have been able to survive the teenage roller-coaster of life is thanks to these few friends. Solomon was right when he said that a friendly man almost certainly has friends of a similar type. I think he was quick and to the point with this, failing to describe, in detail, the character and values of these friends that a “man hath”. I am able to show myself friendly because I have people around me that show themselves friendly, caring, and loving towards me and the world around them. 

I recognize the value in friendship, the verse, “Two are better than one," does not have to apply only to relationships. And I am beyond thankful that I have never had to be alone, through all of the good times and the bad. A true friend will stand by, even in times of trouble. The Bible tells us, "A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” A brother is born out of adversity... I completely believe that, and my love for the friends that have been there for me through the bad times are the ones I refer to as standing out in my heart. 

On the contrary, the Bible speaks of bad friends warning us that, "Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint" (Prov. 25: 19). It is safe to say that each year it seems that I have placed confidence in a friend that has let me down. Time has a powerful way, if we are patient, of showing ANYONE’S true colors. I learn this constantly, as the numbers of “good” friends seem to slowly dwindle down. I am thankful, however; for this. I am thankful each time I learn the true colors of a friend, regardless of how much it stings (learning their true colors). Because I do not base any success in this life off of a quantity of friends (be them average or incredible friends). 

  To be honest, aside from recognizing these anonymous friends, I am hardly going anywhere with this. There is just one final point to be made: A true friend will tell us when we are wrong. Hear the Bible on this one, "Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful" (Prov. 27: 6). Genuine friends must be cherished and not forsaken, because they correct us when we are wrong, they stand up for us when we are trespassed against, and they love us through thick and through thin. Tonight I thank those friends, from the bottom of my heart. I pray that I have been, and can continue to be, an equal friend to you all. Forgive me if at times I fail...