Time-tested Friendship

Test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good.

The doorbell rang. As Sarah ran to open it, she saw her best friend Allie through the windowpane and smiled. But her smile faded as she opened the door and noticed her friend’s red eyes and tearstained face. “Allie, what’s wrong?”

Allie looked at the ground, her breath shuddering out. “We’re moving.”

“Oh, no,” Sarah said, pulling Allie in for a hug. She blinked hard, feeling tears start to pool in her own eyes. She was sad, but she was also angry. How could this possibly be happening? And what would they do now?

Living across the street from each other, the two girls had been inseparable for more than a year. Sarah was worried that with Allie moving, the distance would mean losing her best friend. She knew she would still see Allie sometimes, but it wouldn’t be as often.

As moving day approached, Sarah became determined to keep her friendship with Allie a priority. She begged her mom to let them hang out as much as possible. And even though they sometimes only saw each other once every other month after the move, Allie and Sarah have managed to keep in touch. They’re still best friends.

The Bible reminds us to hold on to the good. It’s important to hold on to what we believe but also to hold on to good friendships. Sarah’s experience helped her realize that some friendships require work, but it’s worth it in the end. Like Sarah, we should “hold on to the good” in our friendships by being persistent, even if we face obstacles. If someone is a good friend to you, make it a priority to spend time with them. Though distance or circumstances may interfere, intentionally connecting with a friend as often as you can may make all the difference. In the end, the hard work of friendship is worth it in order to have a friendship that lasts.

Things to Think About

• When distance or other obstacles arise in friendships, what actions could you take to help maintain the friendship?
• How has someone else shown persistence in their friendship with you?

DAILY ACT OF FRIENDSHIP

Make a list of the friendships you’d like to prioritize. Come up with a plan of action for making those friendships a priority.