Surface friendships

They are getting a divorce. 

Some friends of ours - and yet it came as a total shock to us.  Why? 

Not why are they getting a divorce but why did it come as a shock?  Why was there no mention in our friendship of the trouble they were having?  Why did they not feel comfortable enough to ask for prayer for their relationship? 

I am certainly not saying this in judgement of them or as a criticism.  If anything, I feel that is says more about our listening skills and the friendship we were offering to them. 

It seems to me that friendships are going the way of so many other things in our busy, hectic, technologically infused lives.  To the surface.  No one wants to share depth, things that aren't going right, disappointments in their lives, difficulties, the things that we need friendships for.  Why?

Why can't we share the hard things?  That is what our community is supposed to be for.  That is what Jesus wanted for us.

"A friend loves at all times..." Proverbs 17:17  At all times, not just in the good times.

"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13 

In today's times we aren't usually asked to lay down our lives, but Jesus asks us to love one another by listening, helping and encouraging others. 

I pray that I can be a friend that others can come to in all things - good and bad - and ask for prayer and a listening ear - a shoulder to cry on and a smiling face to rejoice with.

In His Grace...