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Monday, January 4, 2016

FRIENDSHIP SNIPPET #1

After mulling the topic for this post and returning time and again to my earlier post at Clean Reads Romance Café, I decided to stay with friendship, something with which my cautious, introverted self struggles.

Following the publication of my first inspirational romance, Stealing Adda, I was asked to speak at a women’s retreat. Though my talents do not lie in that direction—NOT being modest—I was determined to stretch myself and accepted. But God knows well my struggles and decided to stretch me further. Instead of tackling the topic of forgiveness as planned, I was asked to speak on…friendship.

So allow me to share a snippet of what I shared with that amazing group of ladies:

Webster’s: a friend is “a person attached to another by feelings of affection or personal regard; a person who gives assistance”
Ralph Waldo Emerson: a friend “is a person with whom I may be sincere”
Tennessee Williams: “Friends are God’s way of apologizing to us for our families."
Aristotle: friendship is “a single soul dwelling in two bodies”

One of those definitions is somewhat clinical, one is snort-able, and two are sigh-able. Regardless, one’s connection to friendship is innate and essential. According to a Harvard Medical School study, not having close friends or confidants is as detrimental to a woman’s health as smoking or carrying extra weight. Of course, just as friendships can provide mountaintop experiences, they can also leave us in painful valleys. But in spite of the hurts our friendships can cause, we need them because friendship in its purest form is LOVE. And that’s what we all want.

Next time—a snippet on Biblical Friendships. See you then.

8 comments:

  1. This is so true about friendships. Thanks for sharing! I had never heard the "Friends are God's way of apologizing to us for our families." I admit, I laughed. But then I think about the handful of close friends I have and sigh. Thanks for sharing! Hope you are having a great new year!

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    1. Thank you for stopping by, Sally. Wishing you a happy and blessed New Year!

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  2. I loved the "Friends are God's way of apologizing to us for our families." Enjoyed the post!

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    1. Thanks, Patricia! Yes, that quote does make one blink, smile, and nod :)

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  3. A friend is one to whom one may pour out the contents of one's heart, chaff and grain together, knowing that gentle hands will take and sift it, keep what is worth keeping, and with a breath of kindness, blow the rest away.” ― George Eliot. I loved your quotes Tam and have also added one of my favorites. I give you 2 thumbs up for tackling the issue of friendship. To me, at it's core, friendship is a lot like marriage - you have to work at it. You have to accept the weaknesses, encourage the strengths, and be brave enough to be vulnerable in allowing another into the inner sanctum that we usually build walls to protect. This will be an interesting and challenging journey. So I will rise up with Caleb, who in Numbers 13:30 said, "Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it." In this case, we are going to strive to possess (or build) friendships - and we are well able to overcome our obstacles and defenses that we struggle with that keeps these friendships at bay. I'm looking forward to what we will learn through the insight God gives you. And I'll be praying for you - my friend!!

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    1. You always brighten my day, Pam! What a beautiful new quote to add to my list. Thank you!

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  4. I have many "friends" out there, but only a select few that truly define the word 'friendship'. And I have just one friend (aside from Jesus) that I can feel at ease with enough to share everything with......she is truly a God send.
    Great post. Have a blessed week.

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    1. Thank you for stopping by and sharing, Debbie. What a blessing to have someone to safely share everything with. Definitely a God send. Happy New Year!

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