Close Friends Are Priceless
He took Peter, James, and John with him, and he began to be filled with horror and deep distress. He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and watch with me.” -- Mark 14:33-34
One of the most wonderful things about close, trusted friends is their willingness to walk with us during the difficult, trying times in our lives. Everyone truly needs someone, or a group of someones, who are there for them no matter what.
Even Jesus. As He neared the time when He would die, Jesus turned to His Father in prayer. Jesus had twelve Disciples but He chose three to go with Him as He prayed during the final moments before His arrest. The three closest to Him, no doubt.
Someone dear to me is struggling right now with her son’s health issues. It is mostly a silent struggle. Some folks judge what they do not understand. Those of us who know her pain, stand solid beside her. She is strong and when she is not, well, we will be strong for her. It’s what friends do.
We all have secrets. We do. There are things we just don’t share with everyone. Some of them are so personal that we dare not allow the masses to see. Other things are embarrassing or just awful. We don’t want the world to know what we’ve done, what we’ve endured, what we’ve faced.
But that doesn’t apply to those closest to us. In fact, we feel better in the sharing. There’s just something wonderful about being truly accepted for who you are, warts and all.
Of course, friends sometimes let us down. We are all human and no matter how much we love and care for one another, we fail each other. Just like Peter, James and John failed Jesus that night in Gethsemane. While Jesus was pleading with God to spare Him from what He was about to endure, the three Disciples closest to Him were sleeping.
Jesus understands. He knows the pain and hurt. And yet Jesus didn’t give up on those closest to Him. Jesus knew that Peter would deny Him three times. He also knew that Peter would be the rock on which the church was planted. Jesus told Peter and, of course, it came to pass.
Forgiving and moving on. Seeing the best and embracing it. Laughing and crying, sharing your lives to the fullest. Everyone deserves to have close friends beside them on this journey through life.
Reach out today to those whom you love. Thank them for their companionship, their support, their love. Close friends, true friends, are priceless.
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