Anyone who withholds kindness from a friend forsakes the fear of the Almighty. Job 6:14

I must confess that sometimes I am selfish and petty, even (or especially!) in my closest relationships. I know this is a problem when I feel envious of another’s success or opportunities, or measure their words by how they relate to me. Sometimes I catch myself even seeking to be a good friend so that I will be seen as a good friend more than so that another person will have a good friend.

God’s been convicting me of how I can be self-centered, self-seeking,  self-conscious with friends. Thankfully, He’s also been changing me. I am more able to rejoice with my friends rejoicing and mourn with their mourning. He is changing my heart to be more sincerely loving, less self-conscious or jealous or judgmental. I’m thankful to have friends who live out their faith and share life together with me in ways that point me to Him, and with whom I experience more that “it’s not about me” but to have Christ at the center! What a radiant gift.