Friends

We love our Friends.  We make time for Friends.  We make time and invest time in making Friends and strengthening these special bonds.  Friends bring us all Joy. 

Friends defined as “people with whom one has a bond of mutual affection, typically one exclusive of sexual or family relations” (and I didn’t really want to use the ‘s’ word in my writing), “people attached to another by feelings of affection or personal regard”. 

I also really like the wording used of “the definition of a true friend is someone who has your back, no matter what.  They watch out for you and ensure you are not in danger.  They will never purposely lead you into making decisions that aren’t good for you.  A true friend will always have your best interest at heart”.

Friends for our children are the greatest blessing.  Playdates with Friends and playing at the park with Friends brings Joy to us all.

My daughter and son love having Friends to hang out with and love when their Friends invite them to their place too.  This makes us all happy as I love to see my children Joyful.

We do like having their Friends here too and we pull out craft and games and activities.  We love to have theme nights such as Pizza Parties or the Teddy Bear Picnic when my daughter was younger and love having Friends over for Halloween.

My hubby is also a great keeper of Friends – he values his Friends and makes time for his Friends.  And he also encourages me to make time for my Friends too.

Facebook, texting, sharing of photos by phone has encouraged sharing and closeness and connection, I believe, if used correctly, as an extension of building the relationship with your Friends.  For me, I do not use it as a substitute for time with my Friends, as for me face-to-face, taking the time, sharing time together, is the best of time with Friends.  Plus it is just me, yet I no longer like talking on the phone, I get sick of talking on the phone, with the exception of my Mum and Dad, my hubby and a few close Friends.  Yet even talking on the phone to me is just secondary to time spent together with Friends.

Often the word ‘friends’ is used so broadly on Facebook - where Facebook ‘friends’ often include acquaintances, people from your past that are no longer your Friends (or your enemies), your family members that are close and distant and your Friends too.  Also in childcare centres they say everyone is your friend and it is lovely to be in such a magic land of love and care, yet of course in these environments, there are the standouts, the Friends, the people that bring you Joy from being in their company.  It is the same if you are a child or an adult. 

We love having Friends over for afternoon tea - this is our specialty and is enjoyable for our family and hopefully our Friends too. 

I like where your true Friends can see your messy house with duplo or artwork scattered across your loungeroom and you can laugh about the struggles of motherhood.  I love that you can be yourself with your true Friends - that you are willing for them to see you at your best and you feel comfortable being real when you are not feeling at your best.  I love when you can have a good deep and meaningful with your Friends – that they trust you, and you trust them – and you know it is in the vault.  I love having Friends with whom you can laugh – that is with the best of Friends.  I love to laugh with my Friends – this definitely brings me Joy.

I thank my Friends for being my Friends.  I thank God for my Friends.  I thank God for my children’s Friends and the parents of my children’s Friends who make the friendships possible.  I commit to making Friends a priority, as being in company can bring in so much Joy and allow us the opportunities to bring Joy to others too.