You’ve Got A Friend In Me

Coffee and fresh sourdough cinnamon rolls.  Doesn’t that sound delicious?  Oh, it was!  What made it even better was that I was able to share it with a friend.  Yes, it was something very simple, but it meant a whole lot to me.  It was nice to take a moment away from my busy life to just sit and talk. 

Friendship means different things to different people.  To me, friendship means having someone who will stick by you no matter what.  Even if you aren’t talking to them every day (please tell me I am not the only one who has friends like this).  When we do get a chance to talk and be together, it is so refreshing. 

Hebrews talks about the importance of getting together and encouraging one another, especially knowing that Christ is coming soon.

"Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.  And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near."  Hebrews 10:24–25 NLT

What better way to motivate another person than to be a good friend!

I know that life can get crazy, and we feel like we do not have time to do anything else.  However, just stopping for a moment to have coffee and a fresh cinnamon roll with a friend can help relieve some of the pressure that we feel every day.

The Mayo Clinic stated, “Friends also play a significant role in promoting your overall health. Adults with strong social connections have a reduced risk of many significant health problems, including depression, high blood pressure, and an unhealthy body mass index (BMI).”

Did you see that? You can lose weight by having a friend!

Seriously though, if you do any research at all, you will find that having good relationships in your life will result in better overall physical and mental health.  For instance, you can read this article posted by the National Library of Medicine.  Personally, I want to live as long as God will allow and see my future grandchildren.  It sounds like a great reason to have a few close friends.

Did you notice that our focus Scripture said, “especially NOW that the day of His return is drawing near”?

We are living in a very chaotic time.  Things have gotten worse, and if you are like me, you simply get stressed thinking about what your children are going to have to face in the days to come.  THIS is where we come in and motivate one another. 

You aren’t the only one feeling the pressures of society.  So are others in your surrounding communities. People you come across every day just going to your local grocery store, gas station, or Dollar General are worried about something.  Finances, home, children, marriage—the list goes on and on. 

What are you doing to encourage even those personal connections?

I recently stopped off at Baskin Robbins while we were out of town.  I know, I know!  Don’t crucify me!  I had children with me, even though I was the instigator. Anyhow, as I was waiting for the kids to order, I began looking at the ice cream.  I always go for the no-sugar-added ice cream, which is super yummy, but this time I came across strawberry cheesecake. 

If they had a drive-thru at this location, I wouldn’t have been tempted.  I could literally hear the song from Veggie Tales, “Temptation”.

I asked the young lady if I could try it to make sure it wasn’t going to be overly sweet.  I heard another employee speak up, and she kindly offered solutions to my dilemma. This led to a whole other conversation about what church I attended.  I responded and found out there was another customer there who knew exactly where it was.

“It’s A Small World” tune entered here.

This followed more conversation about how we look the part, but our mouths don’t match up.  In that moment, I did my best to show Christ from within.  I wanted to encourage and show love in this situation. Right there, in the middle of my temptation, God placed someone in my path to motivate with acts of love and good works.

Are you paying attention when God places individuals in your life?

I want to have close friends to encourage and to receive encouragement from, but I also want to be aware of the needs of those I encounter daily.  I want to allow God to use me just as the Scripture says.

How long has it been since you had coffee or tea with a friend? Don’t wait. Schedule a time to go out and be with a friend.  Do it for your health and MAYBE your weight.

Who knows… I may have coffee and ice cream on my next outing with a friend.  The possibilities are endless.  Who’s my friend now???