Tips for Long Term Friendships

"When we consider the blessings of God—the gifts that add beauty and joy to our lives, that enable us to keep going through stretches of boredom and even suffering—friendship is very near the top."
—Donald W. McCullough, Mastering Personal Growth

God has blessed me with some amazing women in my life and some amazing friendships.
I have a beautiful mother whom has been through so much YET she still is always beautiful and such a blessing to me and Mr. Aguila and is one of my very best friends.

I have my cousins, whom I grew up with and though the paths of our lives have taken many turns at the end of it all, we are family and I love my family.  This pretty much sums it up.

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I have my "buddy" which most people would refer to as their "best friend" but I just never have liked to use that so I call her MY BUDDY but she is everything that a best friend is and so much more, our friendship has lasted well over 20 years and that is more than half of my life time. Her and I have been through many stages of our lives and even when we go through long stretches of not catching up with each other, WHEN we finally do we pick up as if no time has even passed us by. I love this here girl and her beautiful family. 

 

 

And last but not least, I have my real life GIG(Girlfriends in God) We encourage each other daily, check on each other daily and best of all pray with each and for each other.  These ladies inspire me to keep going and to keep growing. We have been connected by God on this journey for over six years. In these six years, we have grown in our walks with God, got married, moved, changed, experienced heart aches, hard times and just life and through it all we remain united.

 

 

We have had ups and we have had downs, we have experienced misunderstandings, we have gone through disappointments, we have rubbed each other like sand paper BUT I must say we continue going, keeping our love for each other. 

 

Having all these amazing ladies in my life has helped me so much through MANY things in my life.  There are many others who have come along and done life with me and I do realize it and I am ever so thankful to you as well. 

I think it is important to connect this way.  I didn't use to which is why I only have a handful of friends and I didn't mention them all here and as I am typing this there are some that come to mind but they know I love them also!

A FEW TIPS I HAVE LEARNED ON MAINTAINING A LONG TERM FRIENDSHIP:

LOVE, LOVE and more LOVE and I when I say LOVE, I am talking about that 1st Corinthians 13 kind of LOVE.



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Always Speak The Truth In Love Even If It Hurts

Proverbs 27:5-6 (NLT)

⁵ An open rebuke is better than hidden love!

⁶ Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy.

Sometimes It Takes Making Sacrifices

John 15:13 (NLT)
There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

Strengthen and Help Each Other
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (NIV)

⁹ Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor:

¹⁰ If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls

    and has no one to help them up.

¹¹ Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone?

¹² Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

 

Counsel Each Other

Proverbs 27:9 (NLT)
The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense.

 

Sharpen Each Other

Proverbs 27:17 (NLT)

As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.

 

So what about you, do you have girlfriends like this?  If so, what has helped you maintain them and if not I hope my biblical tips will help you as they continue to help me.  I am far from perfect and I am constantly learning and growing and stretching through these relationships because God just loves us too much to leave us the same and for that I am thankful.