Mom Heart Moments #172

A friend loves at all times.

AS THE SUN SET, casting shadows around our kitchen as I made dinner, my little girl walked in slowly and sat at the kitchen counter. Tears welled up in her round, brown eyes as she put her elbows on the counter and held her face in her hands. “Mama,” she started, and it all came tumbling out. “I thought that Christians were supposed to be different. I can’t believe my friend would lie to me and then get mad at me for talking to her about it. It just doesn’t seem fair!”

The whole story eventually came out through stops and starts of tears and sniffles. The cause of Joy’s woe was a very close friend who had gotten angry, yelled harsh words, and stomped out when Joy tried to talk to her about a sensitive issue. I came around the counter and held my heartbroken daughter closely, helping her to wipe her eyes.

“How about we have a cup of tea together and talk about it?” I asked.

With candles lit a few minutes later, hot chocolate chip cookies ready to be dunked in milk, and tea steeping, I sat down with my sweet girl as she settled in on the couch.

“Mama,” she started, “you’ve always quoted that proverb about ‘a friend loves at all times.’ I didn’t really know what that meant until tonight. Gossip and fighting and drama are awful. I don’t really feel like loving, but that verse means I’m supposed to be committed to my friend, no matter what, right? Just like Jesus is committed to us, even when we sin against Him.”

I nodded and squeezed her hand as her tears flowed again. She smiled a wobbly smile and leaned close to me.

“It really costs a lot to be a good friend, doesn’t it, Mama?”

Do you have a friend who is good at loving you at all times? Ask God to help you maintain your commitment to friendship.