LIFE LONG FRIENDSHIPS/ WHAT MAKES THEM TIC? PART 2

Since joining "C R" (Celebrate Recovery http://www.celebraterecovery.com/ ) and renewing my faith in Christ through baptism I am finding more doors opened in my life never thought possible. I allowed Jesus Christ my savior the path to the one true God into my life.



Jesus said: "Here I Am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with Me." (Revelation 3:20)



I call this the foundation block; allowing God through the Lord Jesus Christ, and the strength from the Holy Spirit to guide me.

In Part One I said that chemistry plays a part in a life long friendship.

The basic fundamentals I look at in a long lasting friendship are the following.



1. Respect for who they are, this includes if they are from a different faith, honor their faith in their God.



2. Respect their privacy -- Just don't come over to their home, CALL AHEAD and see what they are up to first. They may be busy.



3. Respect Boundaries-- No body including myself likes to be pushed around or taken advantage of. REALLY LISTEN TO WHAT THEY ARE SAYING HERE. SO LET THEM BE IF THEY WANT TO BE LEFT ALONE.



4. Be a problem solver -- Friends come together to help each other if they need some advice when they feel stuck on what to do.



5. ESTABLISH TRUST!!!-- Do something that develops TRUST!
Find time in busy schedules to do things together that share in common, learn something new that you have not known before.

Trust is very important, Always keep what they say to yourself, (except if they threaten to harm themselves or someone else, Look at the degree level of the threat before you act.)





In my personal life over the years people walk in and out of my life at a rapid pace. There are co-workers, church members, casual contacts that I meet at a local Peet's coffee or Starbucks, and counseling groups, but the one's who e-mail me, call me, text message me out of the blue on a weekend just to say "hi", " how did you do in that courier class?" " have a good weekend!" , "Lets try to meet up for coffee?" These are the ones I call friends, and I CHERISH THESE FRIENDS AND LET THEM KNOW HOW MUCH THEIR FRIENDSHIP MEANS TO ME!! It's the "little things" that makes or breaks a friendship. I pray everyday for my friends, the people who I work with, to give thanks to God Himself for keeping them safe at work, on the road, and at their homes. Ask for God's GRACE by keeping the FAITH.

Shalom,

PEACE

Brother In Christ

Tim :)