Cherish your friends..

Never abandon a friend— either yours or your father’s. When disaster strikes, you won’t have to ask your brother for assistance. It’s better to go to a neighbour than to a brother who lives far away.

Proverbs 27:10

It's a very wonderful gift of God to have enduring friendships - ones that have stood the test of time - through good times and bad.

Proverbs advises us to stay loyal to our friends and hints at being on friendly terms with our neighbours too.

The 2nd greatest commandment is to love your neighbour as you love yourself!

The second is this: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

Mark 12:31

That's pretty easy if you have good neighbours, like we have now.

But not all neighbours are lovable, are they?

That's a very hard situation to face.

It's a call for smiling through gritted teeth and agape love!

When we first moved in here one neighbour was a bit grumpy and sour faced with us.

He works nights so sleeps during the day.

Obviously, we made plenty of noise with chainsaws and other noisy garden machinery cutting brambles that had grown thick and tangled for 10 years.

One morning, he got up and swore at us, saying "I'm trying to sleep here"!

We apologised profusely.

Gradually we won him round with love, laughter and kindness.

He is now a true friend, who we love very much.

He has often said: "If there's anything you need, just give me a shout and I'll be there to help."

What a transformation that is.

However, not everyone will be changed to a friend like that.

Yet the onus is on us to try from our side, as believers.

Many of you reading this will be on my list of true loyal friends.

Thank you for never abandoning me in my hour of need. I hope, by God's grace, to always be there for you too.

Prayer - Lord Jesus, thank you for the blessings of friends who have stood with us through thick and thin. Help us to be loyal, loving friends, shining out your love.