Tender Merices Tuesday: Faithful Friends

I have been thinking about the friends I have for the last little while. Outside of the family I have a few dozen good friends. For some reason I have been able to make friends easily but I am an "out of sight, out of mind friend"- meaning if I don't see you or talk to you on a daily basis or if either of us move away, generally I don't stay in contact. I got to thinking one night, that maybe it doesn't matter where they live or if I see them every day or not; a friend is a friend and I never know when they might need my help. I should stay meaningfully connected with these people I have had a bond with so that I can be in tune if the Lord ever needs me to help them. What if I had an experience that I have all ready overcome that a dear friend is going through that only I can share special encouraging strength with? I may be playing the what if game a bit too much (hey it was 3 am! That’s what you do in the middle of the night) but I feel like it is something I need to work on.

To my surprise I flipped through the Ensign and saw the first presidency message this month and THERE IT WAS! What I had JUST BEEN PONDERING! Isn't it crazy how that always seems to happen? Exactly what you are thinking right there on the page?

President Henry B Eyring said:
"One of the great tributes the Savior can give is to call us “friends.” We know that He loves with a perfect love all of His Heavenly Father’s children. Yet for those who have been faithful in their service with Him, He reserves this special title... We become His friends as we serve others for Him. He is the perfect example of the kind of friend we are to become. He wants only what is best for His Heavenly Father’s children. Their happiness is His happiness. He feels their sorrow as His own because He has paid the price of all their sins, taken upon Himself all their infirmities, borne all their troubles, and felt all their longings. His motives are pure. He seeks no recognition for Himself but to give all glory to His Heavenly Father. The perfect friend, Jesus Christ, is completely selfless in offering happiness to others.

 In the next few days you will have many opportunities to be a friend for Him. It may be as you walk on a dusty road. It may be as you sit down in a railroad car. It may be as you look for a place to sit in a Church congregation. If you are watching, you will see someone carrying a heavy burden. It may be a burden of sorrow or loneliness or resentment. It may be visible to you only if you have prayed for the Spirit to give you eyes to see into hearts and have promised to lift up the hands that hang down.

The answer to your prayer may be the face of an old friend, one you have not seen in years but whose needs suddenly come into your mind and heart and feel as if they are your own. I’ve had that happen to me. Old friends have reached out to me across the miles and the years to offer encouragement when only God could have told them of my burden."

Lucky for me I know a person that exemplifies this selfless friendship President Eyring spoke of, (I hope I don't embarrass her too much though) She is my husbands cousins wife Melissa (but I just call her my cousin too). Talk about a Christ like friend! She keeps in contact with everyone and has a heart the size of... hmmm what is the biggest thing you can think of??? Well it's bigger! She is ALWAYS offering words of encouragement, always wanting to know the latest and greatest in your life (not in a nosey way at all, but so she can share in your joy) and stays connected with people she was friends with in KINDERGARTEN! I find it fascinating how she even keeps everyone straight. I could list all the kind services and gestures she has done for my family but it just may be too long! I laughed when I found out how many Christmas cards she sends out each year. :) I am so glad she has become my friend over the years and I hope that someday I can learn to be as good a friend a she is to others. I want to be in tune when others need my help, time or talents so I can be called one of "His friends as I serve others for him".