Kindred Spirits

Have you ever had the kind of friend that you could go to with anything? Maybe even do nothing with but just be together. When the feelings bubble up from where you’ve stuffed them, when you’re rejoicing, when you’re feeling angry, when your PMS-ing, even when you know you’re wrong, you can share them with this friend. She will listen with a grain of salt. She may try to encourage you to get on the right track, but would never judge. She will pray for you but she would never betray your trust.

I have a couple of friends like this, but one in particular. We have been friends for several years, but just in the last year or so we have become very close.

Kindred spirits.

I have stood by her side when she thought life couldn't get any worse as a mother of young children, taken care of her when she was sick, helped clean her house before family came to town. I see my friendship with her as a listening ear, and a praying heart- advice when she asked.

And she has done the same for me. Even when I knew God needed to change my heart, and I would say, “I KNOW this is wrong thinking, but I feel… can you pray with me for God to change my heart?“

I am doing Beth Moore's David Study and I'm at the part where Jonathan makes a committment to David and so friendship is heavy on my heart. In the Bible, there are examples of great friendships. These friendships are influenced by God, and their bond is bound by their faith.

“…the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.” (1 Sam. 18:1, NKJV)

And I think of the song by Michael W. Smith, "Friends". The first part of the chorus goes: "And friends are friends forever, if the Lord's the Lord of them." I truly believe that. If our bond as friends is bound by our faith in Jesus, we will be friends forever.

Have you ever had a friend like that?