Pansies add a lot of winter color even though they are only around for a season.
I believe that friendship is truly a gift from God and all friendships are beautiful in their own unique way. Even those that only bloom for a season can add fabulous color and beauty to our lives in the moment. Even Jesus, surrounded himself with friends. He really liked being around people and although he had many friends, he had a few besties too. Peter, John and James were the only three who got to witness the transfiguration.
I was recently reading the Daniel story. Remember him from Sunday school? You know, the lion’s den guy? He also had three friends, Shadrach, Meschach and Abednego. They were the guys who were thrown into the fiery furnace. There was a crazy king who had a bad dream and not only did he want the dream interpreted, he wanted someone to tell him what his dream was as well. Of course, no one could do this, so he was going to have all of the astrologers, magicians and wise men in his kingdom killed. This also included Daniel and friends. Daniel, first asked the king for a little time and then he asked his three friends to pray that God would reveal the answer to him. They prayed and guess what happened? God answered them and revealed the truth to Daniel. The king was happy and told Daniel he could leave the palace and rule over all of Babylon. Did Daniel take the offer? Nope. He asked the king to put his three friends in charge and he remained in the palace. Daniel put his friends before himself. This is also a fantastic example of how asking friends to pray for us works.
In a later story in the Book of Daniel, Â Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego are told if they don’t bow down to a golden statue, they will be thrown into a fiery furnace. They all stood together and refused. How do you think the story would have ended if one of them caved? They all stood together. There’s great power in friends who will stand shoulder to shoulder with you in the face of adversity. There are probably few things here on earth that are more powerful. They all got thrown into the furnace, but survived without a hair singed on their heads. The scripture says their clothes didn’t even smell like smoke. Keep in mind, the fire was so hot, that the officials who threw them were burned up.
The fabulous thing about friendship is that it can be beautiful and unbelievably powerful and strong at the same time. There are many examples of friendship throughout the Bible. It is definitely a gift from God and something to be treasured no matter how long it may last. Today, I’m going to say a special thanks for the many blessings of friendship I have been given. Will you join me?
Have an awesome day!
Wendy đŸ™‚