Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man
sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
Proverbs 27:17
Today's post is written by a special girl: Kaleigh's youngest sister. Sarah (age 14) is an avid reader and writer when not doing schoolwork. She enjoys being adventurous while exercising. Her infectious personality often causes others to laugh along with her. She is on the left side of the above picture. Sarah hopes you are encouraged by this post!
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Friendship is one of the most special things God created, yet sometimes the hardest thing to hold together.
Proverbs 17:17a says “A friend loveth at all times”. Does this mean just when your friend does what you ask, just when they’re being nice, or just when they’re the easiest to love? No, “all” means “always”: entirely, totally, and in every respect. Even when they give you an attitude that is so hard to love.
To love someone means way more when you fulfill it with actions. Saying “I love you” is something anyone can do, but going that extra step to show that person how you love him means a whole lot more in the long run.
The picture above shows two friends. The one on the right has been through a lot of trials lately, and no one knows why, but we continue to trust in God. After all, His plans are way better than ours. I used my knowledge of the Scripture, and the wisdom given to me by God to encourage my friend. It hurt me to see her suffer so badly, and though there were limits as to how far I could help her, I jumped at every opportunity possible. I used Scripture, prayer, and cards the most.
Encourage your friends when they hurt. If you can’t say anything to make them feel better, let them know you’re there for them, and are willing to listen to anything they may need to share or get out. When they lose loved ones or jobs, or fail tests, or get into relationship problems, sometimes just a Bible verse and e-card telling them you care can go a long way.
Proverbs 27:17: “As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend”. Are we sharpening our friends for good, or are we tearing them down? Sharpening your friend can be asking a simple heart-provoking question, such as one I was asked recently: Where do you want to be in 20 years? Or “What are you filling your days with?” Show the people you love that you care what’s going on in their lives.
By God’s grace, we can keep our friendships strong.
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Great job, Sarah! Thank you for being willing to share your thoughts with us. :)
Blessings,
Kaleigh
