How Can I Be A TRUE Friend??
By Summer and Melody Chapin


Summer: Over the past few months, Melody and I have been trying to sort our thoughts out on exactly what holds a true friendship together, what causes it to grow and/or what causes a friendship to fall apart. After holding many discussions together on this issue of friendship and after looking up many Bible verses, we now wish to share with you our thoughts and conclusions on this matter......
"A friend loveth at all times." !!! -Prov, 17:17a So, wouldn’t a true friend be someone who would stick with you through thick and thin? Wouldn’t she love you at all times? I think so.
But then comes the difficult question. “What is true love? I Cor. 13:4-8a tells me, “Charity suffereth long, and is kind; Charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself; is not puffed up, Doth not behave herself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things, Charity never faileth.”
Melody: Summer, I think the dictionary definition for love (charity), goes along quite well with I Cor. 13:4-8a. It says, “Love - Unselfish concern for the best interests of another...”
Pictures of the Chapin family
LET THOSE IN YOUR FAMILY BE YOUR BEST EARTHLY FRIENDS!!
(1.) Dad telling Harmony a story (2.) Summer and Charity shopping at
Walmart (3.) Summer (left) and Melod (right) writing for "YWSH" (4.)
Tommy holding Autumn (5.) Autumn in her crib (6.) Melody, with dog
(Blizzard (7.) The family having a picnic (Summer not pictured)

Summer: Wow! The standard is set very high, and I think that many times we may slip in this area and fail to have true love and be true friends. Melody, so often we get caught up in our own selfish concerns, thereby robbing our friends without even realizing it! :-( However, if we have God’s love in our hearts, won’t He show us clearly our self-centeredness and cause us to grow closer in love to one another, thus putting aside our own selfish desires and thoughts...?...
To truly love someone is not necessarily easy. It calls for dying to self and being a servant... It calls for humbling oneself and esteeming the other better... It calls for great self-sacrifice!
Melody: I think love must be the secret to having a true friendship, Summer. Without love, who can withstand the tests and trials that may occasionally face a friendship?
Summer: Why don’t we look at some examples of trials that may occur in a friendship?..


“(Love) suffereth long, and is kind..”
* * *
Linda had had enough. Angrily, she whispered to her younger sister, Josie. "That was the second time you hinted at my secret! Before long, Dad will know about the party, and it won’t be a secret anymore!"
“I.. I didn’t mean-” Josie began, but Linda interrupted. “I can see it already! The whole thing will be spoiled all because of you..”
Melody: Longsuffering means: “Long and patient endurance of injuries, insults, trouble, etc.”
Hmmm. Was Linda being kind? Longsuffering? Was she showing true love for her sister?
Summer: Well, Melody, if she had been, wouldn’t the scenario have gone something more like this?...
* * *
Linda froze in horror as the dreaded words slipped out of Josie’s mouth. Linda breathed a sigh of relief as her father continued talking. Obviously, he had not heard. Shakily, Linda motioned for her little sister to come.
Josie followed Linda into the next room, her head hanging in shame.
“Josie.” Linda began softly, seeing her little sister’s repentant expression. “Please, please try to be more careful with your words from now on, ok? You don’t want Daddy to find our about his party, do you?”
“No, I don’t. I’m sorry, Linda.” Josie sighed. “It’s so hard, but I’ll try even harder.”
“Ok,” Linda smiled. “I know you didn’t mean to tell, and I forgive you.”


Summer: So, as we see, longsuffering is one of the ingredients of true love. When our friends at times offend us, our reactions should be mild, patient, and longsuffering. If one of our friends wants to do something, shouldn’t we go ahead and do what she wants; not what we want? If someone injures us, our feelings, our plans, or our possessions, shouldn’t we be longsuffering, and show forgiveness; not anger? Our Lord is longsuffering. “The Lord is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression.” - Num. 14:18a
We should show true love to our friends by being longsuffering. Indeed, isn’t this what the Lord calls us to in I Corinthians 13 where He says, “Charity suffereth long, and is kind.” ?
“(Love) envieth not.”
Summer: Uh oh, Melody! Here’s one that can really cause problems between friends...easily, can’t it? We need to constantly be checking our hearts for envy, as it is a common problem for many.
* * *
It was a strained relationship; that is, as far as Lottie was concerned. Jill was just too talented with that piano! ... “Made me look like a beginner last week when she played that wonderful, trilly piece!” Lottie thought bitterly within.
Although she didn’t consciously realize it, Lottie was slowly separating herself from one of her very best friends by allowing jealously and envy to creep into her heart.


Summer: So often don’t we allow envy and jealously to creep in between us and our friends? What we so often fail to realize is that anything they own or any good talents that they have, are given to them by God. We should not be jealous or envious of them; but rather, we should encourage them to develop their talents for His glory!
If we are envious of our friend’s talents, possessions, good looks, etc., then isn’t the problem with ourselves, in that we are not being contented with what God has given to US? Hebrews 13:5b says here, “...And be content with such things as ye have...” Also, I Corinthians 10:12b says, “...They measuring themselves by themselves and comparing themselves among themselves are not wise.”
“Charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up...”
Melody: On the other hand, Summer, we may not have as much of a problem with envy as we do with pride. What if you’re one of the ones whom God has chosen to bless with many talents, possessions and/or good looks? Here’s an example of how pride can enter into our friendships.
* * *
Karen deftly gave her canvas the final stroke. There, all finished! Carefully, she surveyed her handiwork. Everything was beautiful. -The sparkling waterfall trickling smoothly over grey, overhanging rocks; the lush, green shrubs; colorful summer flowers; and, best of all, the purple, snow-capped mountains, glinting in the distant sunlight with a few lingering, foggy clouds to surround them. “I don’t think it could’ve been painted much better by someone my own age.” Karen thought, pleased, to herself.
Cautiously, she then glanced a few feet to her right, to see how her friend, Lorretta, was doing. Karen smiled when she saw that her own painting looked far more impressive than that of Lorretta’s. “She made too many smudges, and she didn’t get those glints quite right.” Karen thought silently...
Although Loretta was one of Karen’s best friends, it made Karen feel good inside to know that she was more talented, and could do a better job than her friend, Lorretta.


Summer: I think that the reason we often tend to lower others in our own eyes, is merely to raise ourselves up to look good, but I wonder what the Bible has to say about seeking to develop a high self-esteem? Philippians 2:3 tells me, “Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory: but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.”
Pride often gets in the way and causes trouble in friendships, doesn’t it? It can show itself in many different ways... Sometimes we may be too proud to admit we’re wrong and to say we’re sorry; sometimes we may be too proud to associate with someone because she just doesn’t seem “good”, “pretty”, or “popular” enough; or, as in the example above, we may be proud of what we can do that others can’t.
Doesn’t God hate a proud heart, a heart that thinks he’s better or can do better?.. or a heart that’s too proud to admit that he’s wrong? Proverbs 6:5 says, “Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.”
Melody, one thing for us all to remember when find ourselves growing proud of an accomplishment, etc., is to soberly realize that we never could’ve accomplished what we did unless God had helped us so that He could fulfil His own purposes through us. We should remember to give all the glory to HIM ALONE in our hearts for anything good we ever do, shouldn’t we??!!
Another thing to remember is that God says in His Word that “Pride goeth before a fall.” Shouldn’t it cause us to tremble and quake in fear to find any amount of pride lurking within our hearts?.. For we shall surely be put to shame for it if we foster it and allow it to continue.
Let’s not let pride be the downfall of us all, sisters! Let’s not let it destroy the wonderful friendships that we can have with each other! Oh, wouldn’t it be so wonderful if we could all walk together in love and humility with each other, each of us esteeming the other better than herself? What a glorious and beautiful thing it would be!
“(Love) doth not behave herself unseemly.”
Summer: Love is the heartbeat of Christianity. - “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and everyone that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not, knoweth not God; for God is love.” - I John 4:7-8
“By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” - John 13:35
But... also, doesn’t the Bible tell us, “Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” - Matt, 7:20 ? (We should not behave ourselves unseemly, but rather, we should do good works.)
Hmm... Melody, it seems that these two things called “fruits” (i.e. good works), and charity (love) go hand in hand as it is shown in this short phrase, “Love doth not behave herself unseemly.”
True love will not be the worker of evil. True love will manifest itself in good works, will it not? How can we say that we love our friends if we don’t really act like it? Don’t actions speak louder than words??? “A man that hath friends will show himself friendly.” - Prov. 18:24a
“(Love) seeketh not her own...”
* * *
Oh, why did the baby have to be changed just then! The preacher had just come to the most interesting point in his sermon, but...there was Mother, motioning for one of the girls to come and take the baby. Sheila riveted her eyes on the preacher, watching and listening intently. Perhaps Julie would take the baby out.. she hoped!


Melody: Someone who “...seeketh not her own,” is, in other words, a servant. A servant doesn’t think of herself. She is always willing to lend a helping hand to her friends, and she does her best at it. "But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.” - Matt. 23:11-12
Summer: “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” - John 15:13 Jesus did this for me! He expects that I do it for others...
“(Love) is not easily provoked...”
* * *
Martha gave the kitchen counter a third swipe with her sponge. There, that mess was cleaned up! “Why do little sisters have to make such messes?” Martha thought absent mindedly as she rinsed the sponge.
Just then, 6 year old Lottie flew into the kitchen, a big grin spread from one chubby cheek to the other. “Martha, Mother said that I could have some orange juice!” she said, eagerly jerking the refrigerator door open. Lottie jumped away in horror as three eggs suddenly slipped out of the egg tray and landed directly at her feet, the slippery egg yolks instantly spreading into a gooey puddle.
“Lottie, just look what you’ve done!” Martha exclaimed in dismay. Disgusted, she angrily closed the refrigerator door and hovered over the broken eggs like a distraught hen.
Lottie took one look at Martha’s face, and fled from the room.


Melody: Summer, don’t we often tend to get provoked when things don’t happen just right? - when every time we turn around, our plans are ruined?! We need to keep in mind that the Lord is in charge of everything that happens in our lives! - “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God.” - Romans 8:28a
Every day we are very likely to have at least one opportunity to become provoked with someone (or something), whether it is a friend, sister or brother. we need to remember that true love is not easily provoked.
Actually, in many friendships (outside of our families) this might not be a big problem, especially since we don’t want our friends to get a bad impression of us. But.. what about our families? Shouldn’t they be our most important and best (earthly) friends?
The true test of love and friendship is found in the home! It is so much harder to not be provoked and to be a servant in our homes; the place where, whenever you turn around, something has “gone wrong”. - a gallon of milk has spilled, or a dozen eggs have splattered on the floor, and all the little ones are sliding around in them (getting their clothes dirty, which of course, causes not only the eggs to have to be cleaned up, but the little ones as well :-) ), or a glass has broken on the patio and the little one that accidentally broke it, of course, just has to “help” clean it up, and in the process, slices her finger... Of course I’m exaggerating a bit, but I think you get the picture! A home (that has many little ones! :-) ) is a perfect place for us to develop that proper character which is needed to help us get along with our other friends!
“(Love) thinketh no evil...”
Summer: It certainly does take a great deal of selflessness to give the other person the benefit of the doubt, at times, doesn’t it? When something looks fishy, don’t we sometimes find it hard to keep ourselves from blaming others or allowing suspicions to rise in our hearts? I’ve read a lot of short stories over the past several years where the writer will try to illustrate this.
* * *
With a frown, Rosa slid from her perch on the front porch swing as she heard her name ring out over the freshly cut lawn. Silently, she tromped through the short green grass and around to the back patio, her mind in a rapid whirl of thought. “That Carla! Why, I didn’t even think that she might be the type that wouldn’t keep her word when I sent her my money! I can’t understand why in the world she hasn’t sent me that book she promised, yet?!
Rosa looked up as she met Mother in the doorway. “Yes Mother? Did you call me?”
“Yes”, Mother motioned for Rosa to come in. “I’m going to take a short walk out to the mailbox, and meanwhile, I’d like for you to watch the baby.”
“Okay.” Rosa stepped into the entry-way and slipped her feet out of her grass - stained sandals. “Oh, Mother?”
“Yes?” Mother turned questioningly to Rosa. “I was wondering if I could call Molly and get her recipe for whole wheat rolls while you’re out?”
“Sure.” Mother smiled, and closed the door.
Rosa hurried to the telephone to call Molly. After writing down the recipe, however, Rosa switched the topic of conversation to her most recent distress. “You know, Molly. I just don’t know what in the world is taking Carla Crawford so long to mail me the book I requested. It’s been over two months now, and I’ve seen neither hide nor hair of that book! I’ve been needing it now for quite a while so I can do a report, but I guess if Carla keeps on fiddling around, I’ll just have to give up and do the report on something else. I just never would have thought it of her, though!”
....Just as Rosa hung up with Molly, Mother walked in the door, her slender arms laden with numerous letters and packages.
“Oh Rosa!” Mother sing-songed brightly, thumping a book-sized package down on the kitchen table. “It looks like you received a package from Carla Crawford.”
Rosa reddened. Silently, she picked up the package and opened it. Out fell the long-awaited for book, along with a tiny note. Soberly, Rosa read Carla’s apology:


“Dear Rosa,
Your Sister In Christ,
Carla Crawford


Summer: If we have true love in our hearts for someone, it won’t be easy to gossip evil about that person, will it? In other words, if we think no evil, we will do no evil. Sin always begins as a wicked thought in our hearts. It then reveals itself to others in our actions.
Many times, if we think bad about our friends because they have hurt us or upset us in some way or another, we then tend to go and tell others about the bad things our friends have done either to us or to others in the past. We then become intentional talebearers! “Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbor: I am the Lord.” - Lev. 19:16
It often happens, however, that we do not intentionally go out of our way to be a talebearer. Sometimes we don’t intend to spill our hurts out in gossip, but it just somehow happens that we’re sitting together with our friends, talking away, and oops!...something slips! It’s that gratifying feeling that we get when telling something new...We just don’t stop to think about what might be the consequences if we say this or that. :-(
What might be the consequences of gossip? First: “The words of a talebearer are as wounds and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.” -Prov. 18:8
Have you ever been gossiped about, and found out later what was said? Maybe not all of it was exactly the truth?.. Didn’t it hurt? Perhaps it even upset and angered you? How would you most likely feel towards the person who had gossiped about you?
When we gossip about others, it can hurt them... deeply! :-( It can even cause them not to want..to be..our friends anymore. :-( It can also cause others who heard the gossip, not to want to be friends with the person that was gossiped about.
“A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.” -Proverbs 16:28
“He that covereth a trangression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.” -Proverbs 17:9
Melody: What about the times when we have something against someone? Should we go tell another friend what we think, and get “counsel” from her before we speak to the one we are having problems with?
“Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.” -Matt. 18:15
“A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.” -Prov. 11:13
“Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth. -Prov. 26:20
Summer: Instead of being so quick to judge our friends, why don’t we be quicker to cover their faults with our love for them, seeing as we ourselves are not faultless?
“And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.” -I Peter 4:8
Perhaps I may go to others, but not in love. I know we often say that we reprove in love, but do we really feel it in our hearts? If I truly feel love, won’t the reproved person be able to see that love revealed in my actions and words to her? Won’t she be more likely to respond if she sees that love?
Also, shouldn’t we search our own hearts first, before judging our friends?
“Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother’s eye.” -Luke 6:42
(Strong words to us all, Melody! :-| )
"(Love) rejoiceth not in iniquity:"
Melody: How do you feel when a friend wrongs you, and later a misfortune befalls her? Are you happy, or do you have a deep sorrow for her sin and misfortune? Do you forgive her, or are you “sort of” glad that she got what you think she deserved!?
Summer: Oh Melody, we shouldn’t be like this! :-( Our own sin and the sins of others should grieve us so deeply, that we fail to become hurt by others, that we fail to be glad at their sins or their misfortunes. Will someone with true heartfelt love for a sister, rejoice that she is more holy and pure? ( Like the Pharisee looking down upon the Publican...) Will true heartfelt love rejoice when that sister is “punished” for her sin? Shouldn’t love and true, Godly sorrow be the emotions of a Christian? True heartfelt love will grieve over the sins of the world and over the sins of our brothers and sisters in Christ! We should be deeply concerned for them...
“(Love) rejoiceth in the truth.”
* * *
“Betty,” Victoria wrung her hands in despair as she gazed at her sister. “Jimmy just won’t obey me when I tell him to do something! He obeys Mother so well, but he absolutely refuses to obey me.”
Betty silently studied the face of her distraught older sister for a moment, then spoke slowly. “Have you tried yet to think what might be the problem?”
“I don’t know. He’s just naughty; that’s all!”
Betty glanced soberly at Victoria. “Perhaps I could give you a suggestion?” she asked meekly.
“Sure, anything!” Victoria sighed as she leaned over and picked up her knitting.
Betty opened her Bible and rapidly flipped to I Peter 5:3. Solemnly, she read. “Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.”
Victoria’s head shot up in sudden surprise. “What’s your point?”
“Well, you know,” Betty began, “How would you feel if Mom was on your case all day, constantly commanding you in a harsh tone to do this and that, never letting up on the commands, and yet doing nothing at all herself?” Betty continued very softly. “In fact, what if she spent much of her time lounging around, reading her favorite books?”
Victoria flushed. “You...you mean that Jimmy has gotten tired of my bossiness and laziness, don’t you?”
“Well,” Betty smiled, “I certainly am not justifying Jimmy, but I think it would be good for us both to remember that being loving, gentle and a good example is more likely to get results than being bossy.
“You’re right.” Victoria finally sighed in agreement. “You know,” she said with a sudden smile, “I think I’ll go and help Jimmy build his block building. I’ll show him that I really do love him!”


Summer: Here in this example: Betty told her sister the plain truth in love (that she was being bossy), and her older sister, Victoria, received this truth.
Love rejoices in knowing the truth, even if it means that we’re wrong, and that something is going to have to change on our part. Even if it hurts us to know the truth sometimes, we can rejoice in knowing that it is for our own good! :-)
“(Love) beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things..”
Summer: Will true love be halfhearted? Half-committed? Will true love show love to a friend one day, and then turn against her the very next? Love bears all things, even when sometimes a situation with a friend may truly seem unbearable! Love believes all things and does not allow ungrounded suspicions to arise in the heart about a friend, even when things may seem a bit fishy. Love hopes that all things will be done according to God’s purpose, and to the good of others. And love endures all things. It sticks it out to the end and doesn’t give up!
“Love never faileth.”
Summer: Praise the Lord for true love - a love that never fails! It is very satisfying to be able to rest in His great Love, knowing that He will never fail nor leave us...!!!
Let us seek to develop such an unfailing love towards all of our friends - these friends that God has so graciously chosen to bless us with!
To close this article, let me mention that no friendship can be deeply satisfying without an honest, open heart exposure of one person to another. - An unbaring of the heart; a sharing of joys and sorrows, victories and failings...
Melody: Often we, in our friendships, talk mostly “casual talk” - about babies, cooking, what we’ve been doing, homemaking, etc. This isn’t wrong, of course, and is in fact, good and very profitable! Yet, what about those “heart to heart” conversations (where you share your struggles and tell what the Lord has been doing in your lives) that make a friendship especially meaningful and profitable?
Summer: How can anything be more satisfying or more releasing than to know that someone shares your troubles willingly and really cares for you, and prays for you!?
Oh, what a joy, what a blessing a deep friendship can be!
Let me add here, shortly, that those who put their love and trust in Him, will always have a “friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” He is one that will always hear and sympathize with us, and He will never betray us, although we may, at times, betray Him in a weak moment, as did Peter. He will never leave nor forsake us if we put our full trust in Him, and He is always ready and willing to forgive us.
“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” Jn. 15:13 And Jesus did this for His friends! His was a perfect love - a love we should all try to follow as an example to us, in our earthly friendships with each other.<>
Note: All Bible verse emphasizes are ours.



How Can I Be A TRUE Friend??
By Mollie Cassidy


Greetings in Jesus’ name, a friend who sticks closer than a brother! Can you imagine Someone you could always rely on, who is closer to you than a brother or sister? Jesus is that friend!
But, how can we ourselves be that kind of a friend to those around us? Jesus commanded us to “love one another”. Here are some ideas:
1. Demonstrate genuine love for your friend - love that Jesus puts in your heart.
2. Have an understanding heart to give counsel and encouragement to your friend.
3. Be ever ready to serve your friend. But, do not neglect your own family’s needs.
These are only a few examples...
Don’t make your friendship too solemn! Have some good times together, too!
My best friend, (outside of my family and Jesus) lives only 5 minutes away from me. We share such special times together!
We love to cook, (Our specialties are cookies :-) ) and to clean up a mess of dirty dishes after a meal. (My spiritual gift is serving. :-) ) Sometimes this is when we laugh the most!
We also love to guess each other’s Birthday or Christmas presents!
I know that Jesus really is my best friend. He won’t ever give up on me. Even if I fail Him sometimes, He will always be with me.
A true friend with genuine love will put his life before yours. He would DIE FOR YOU. Jesus died for me. That’s genuine love and friendship for someone! And yet, He did this when we were not His friends - when we laughed and mocked Him as He hung on that cross - when we despised and rejected Him! Oh, yes, God is so merciful! So loving! Praise The Lord!
Thank you, Summer and Melody for your friendship!
With His LOVE,
Mollie J. Cassidy



Ten things you need to know
about being a trustworthy friend!
- By Megan Maxon


1. Believe in Her.

2. Trust Her.

3. Comfort Her when she’s sad.

4. Listen to Her when she needs to talk.

5. Don’t abandon Her when she needs you.

6. Don’t believe rumors spread about Her.

7. Don’t spread rumors about her.

8. Be totally honest about Her.

9. If you know something she needs to know, tell Her.

10. Never, ever lie to her.

is article, let me mention that no friendship can be deeply satisfying without an honest, open heart exposure of one person to another. - An unbaring of the heart; a sharing of joys and sorrows, victories and failings...
Melody: Often we, in our friendships, talk mostly “casual talk” - about babies, cooking, what we’ve been doing, homemaking, etc. This isn’t wrong, of course, and is in fact, good and very profitable! Yet, what about those “heart to heart” conversations (where you share your struggles and tell what the Lord has been doing in your lives) that make a friendship especially meaningful and profitable?
Summer: How can anything be more satisfying or more releasing than to know that someone shares your troubles willingly and really cares for you, and prays for you!?
Oh, what a joy, what a blessing a deep friendship can be!
Let me add here, shortly, that those who put their love and trust in Him, will always have a “friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” He is one that will always hear and sympathize with us, and He will never betray us, although we may, at times, betray Him in a weak moment, as did Peter. He will never leave nor forsake us if we put our full trust in Him, and He is always ready and willing to forgive us.
“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” Jn. 15:13 And Jesus did this for His friends! His was a perfect love - a love we should all try to follow as an example to us, in our earthly friendships with each other.<>
Note: All Bible verse emphasizes are ours.


How Can I Be A TRUE Friend??
By Mollie Cassidy


Greetings in Jesus’ name, a friend who sticks closer than a brother! Can you imagine Someone you could always rely on, who is closer to you than a brother or sister? Jesus is that friend!
But, how can we ourselves be that kind of a friend to those around us? Jesus commanded us to “love one another”. Here are some ideas:
1. Demonstrate genuine love for your friend - love that Jesus puts in your heart.
2. Have an understanding heart to give counsel and encouragement to your friend.
3. Be ever ready to serve your friend. But, do not neglect your own family’s needs.
These are only a few examples...
Don’t make your friendship too solemn! Have some good times together, too!
My best friend, (outside of my family and Jesus) lives only 5 minutes away from me. We share such special times together!
We love to cook, (Our specialties are cookies :-) ) and to clean up a mess of dirty dishes after a meal. (My spiritual gift is serving. :-) ) Sometimes this is when we laugh the most!
We also love to guess each other’s Birthday or Christmas presents!
I know that Jesus really is my best friend. He won’t ever give up on me. Even if I fail Him sometimes, He will always be with me.
A true friend with genuine love will put his life before yours. He would DIE FOR YOU. Jesus died for me. That’s genuine love and friendship for someone! And yet, He did this when we were not His friends - when we laughed and mocked Him as He hung on that cross - when we despised and rejected Him! Oh, yes, God is so merciful! So loving! Praise The Lord!
Thank you, Summer and Melody for your friendship!
With His LOVE,
Mollie J. Cassidy



Ten things you need to know
about being a trustworthy friend!
- By Megan Maxon


1. Believe in Her.
2. Trust Her.
3. Comfort Her when she’s sad.
4. Listen to Her when she needs to talk.
5. Don’t abandon Her when she needs you.
6. Don’t believe rumors spread about Her.
7. Don’t spread rumors about her.
8. Be totally honest about Her.
9. If you know something she needs to know, tell Her.
10. Never, ever lie to her.


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