Sunday, March 14, 2010

This is from a Newsletter I receive from-http://www.ourprayer.org/

The Secret to Making (and Keeping!) Friends

Friends. Where would we be without them? But making—and keeping—friends is not always easy. The Apostle Paul has some solid advice on how to do just that. It is found in Romans, Chapter 12. This is how that passage reads as translated by Eugene H. Peterson in The Message:

“Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Let’s just go ahead and be what we were made to be, without enviously or pridefully comparing ourselves with each other, or trying to be something we aren’t. If you help, just help, don’t take over. If you give encouraging guidance, be careful that you don’t get bossy; if you’re put in charge, don’t manipulate; if you’re called to give aid to people in distress, keep your eyes open and be quick to respond; if you work with the disadvantaged, don’t get irritated with them or depressed by them. Keep a smile on your face.

Love from the center of who you are—don’t fake it. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle. Laugh with your happy friends when they’re happy; share tears when they’re down. Get along with each other; don’t be stuck up. Make friends with nobodies; don’t be the great somebody.

Don’t hit back; discover beauty in everyone. Don’t insist on getting even; that’s not for you to do. ‘I’ll do the judging,’ says God. ‘I’ll take care of it.’”

Think about your own life. How can you apply the ideas in this Biblical passage so that you are a better person, a better friend?



12 comments:

Brenda said...

This passage relates to something I am going through right now. Glad I read this today Patty and glad you posted this. Have a great Sunday!

Lady Di Tn said...

Wow this is great. The statement by Keating sounds like my little brother. Peace

Renie Burghardt said...

Beautiful advice! Thank you for sharing it, friend!

PS. Dancing with the Stars will be back on tomorrow evening. Yay!

Cheryl said...

Wonderful advice!

Unknown said...

This is a good post here today.

myonlyphoto said...

Patty thanks for sharing this nice newsletter, 'discover beauty in everyone' - I like this one along with others. I think we all are unique, and have something special about us. Thanks again, Anna :)

ChrisJ said...

Great reading, Patty. I do think being yourself is so important. Growing up in an English family who thought money and status made you worthwhile, I'm glad we moved to a small village of fishermen who had to work hard to make ends meet. I soon learned the true worth of friendship

Urmi said...

Wonderful post. Thanks for sharing it.

Clytie said...

Practice playing second fiddle. Wow, there's a lot said in this post, and in this statement. I'm so glad you posted this.

Shionge said...

Friendship just like any other relationship needs to be nurtured all the time...all the time :D

Margaret Cloud said...

You are right, sometimes it is hard to keep friends. The way to do it is not be fake and share your friendship equally. I enjoyed reading this post.

Twisted Fencepost said...

Great post, Patty!
I think this should be read aloud each and every morning before we start our day.