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We try to get together at least one night a week. I drive the short distance to her house, making sure to pick up a medium coffee black for her and a medium tea black for me. We sit in her living room, drink our hot beverages and discuss the week we each have had. We cover the highs, the lows, the laughs, the cries, the challenges, the no-brainers and anything else that comes to mind.

After about an hour, she asks, “So are you hungry?” And we head into the kitchen to see about dinner.

She begins to name off my choices – of leftovers usually. She reheats our choice and we sit down to eat and continue our conversation.

And here’s the thing – it might have been a gourmet meal we consumed. OK, not the pizza with the ranch dressing, but the other meals. For truly, we don’t get together for the food. We get together for the sharing of our hearts, our thoughts and our tears. In those few hours, we are reassured that we each are significant to the other. We are supported. We are friends.

Today I remembered a quote I had written down last fall – – –

The glory of friendship is not the outstretched hand, not the kindly smile, nor the joy of companionship. It is the spiritual inspiration that comes to one when you discover that someone believes in you and is willing to trust you with a friendship.
(Ralph Waldo Emerson)

While the outstretched hand, kindly smile and companionship are enriching, there is yet more which is conveyed through friendship. There is spiritual inspiration. Inspiration brings an enthusiasm, a revelation, a motivation of sorts, an excitement, an arousal of our hearts and minds to keep going, do more, pursue God. This is the true gain from friendship.

Jesus encouraged His disciples, and us, towards this quality of friendship …

“I’ve told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace.” (John 16:33a, MSG)

Trusting someone with your friendship is a privilege we give to one another. Trust develops an assurance for when difficult times come (and they will!), we will have someone who will stand with us, bringing us the spiritual inspiration we need to endure, to persevere. Assured, we will find ourselves, unshakable because of the strength of Christ in us and a deep peace from abiding in Him.

Friends. God places them in our lives because He knows we need them. They need us.

Friendship.

Spiritual inspiration.

May we each inspire today!

I am joining … Three Word Wed. and Wordless Wed. and Wed. Prayer Girls and Wedded Wed. and A Little R & R and Works For Me and Wholehearted Wed. and Winsome Wed. and Words of Life Wed. and Coffee For Your Heart and Word Filled Wed. and Whimsical Wed. .