“Gratitude and love reconnect with forgotten friends to celebrate their influence.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – February 7, 2022
A friend loves at all times. Proverbs 17:17
Have you ever forgotten to keep up with friends from the past who had a profound impact on your life? People who were in your life path who helped guide you in God’s will? I have. Recently, my wife Rita and I reconnected with a dear couple who loved us like no other when we were in our 30s. Wisdom on money issues, parenting skills and ways to grow our marriage relationship were priceless conversations doing life with Steve and Jackie Reed. Steve had just retired as an orthodontist and Jackie was a joyful mother of five, secure in her own skin. She loved laughter and other-centered conversations. Steve found fulfillment in smoking a Boston butt and helping solve problems. Fast forward…time passed…we lost touch, but reconnected last week for lunch. A little grayer, moving a little slower… but their minds moved fast. We laughed, cried, reminisced and grieved over friends lost. So precious—to pick up where we left off.
I love how C.S. Lewis, the brilliant thinker/writer, describes the value of friendship. Writing to a friend, Lewis laments their geographic distance and hopes for closer relational proximity:
Friendship is the greatest of worldly goods. Certainly, to me it is the chief happiness of life. If I had to give a piece of advice to a young man about a place to live, I think I should say, ‘sacrifice almost everything to live where you can be near your friends.’ I know I am very fortunate in that respect, and you much less so. But even for me, it would make a great difference if you (and one or two others) lived in Oxford.
How do you value friendships? “The greatest of worldly goods”, as Lewis states. Or, have you subtly allowed friends to become a commodity, just a transaction to meet your goals? It’s always a good reminder to reframe relationships as a divine gift to cherish with love, prayer and gratitude. We elevate relational worth to the highest of life’s asset classification, by each day dollar cost averaging into friends new and old, whose worth compounds over time. Some are friends for life, some are new to our life and some are transitioning out of our life. Regardless of their relational proximity, ask the Spirit to lead you in how to honor your friends. Love remembers to reconnect.
Who is an old friend who needs you to reconnect? Someone whose influence made you a better person, a faithful follower of Jesus. You may feel a tinge of embarrassment for waiting so long to reach out. Better to make an effort now than procrastinating until well… it’s too late. Maybe start by thanking the Lord for this precious person and for her influence at such a formable time in your faith development. Or, maybe another’s generosity helped get you through a tough time, and now would be a good occasion to let him know how you are doing and how grateful you are for his investment. Gratitude connects with forgotten friends to celebrate their unique influence.
“The pleasantness of a friend springs from their heartfelt advice” (Proverbs 27:9).
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I praise you for friends who have influenced me in your ways, through Christ’s love and in Jesus’ name, amen.
Application
What friend or friends do I need to text, call or email today?
Related Reading
Proverbs 22:24, 27:10; Job 16:20-21; Philemon 1:1; Jude 20-21
Worship Resource
Hillsong Young & Free: Best Friends
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