A reason, a season, a lifetime

by Nancy Ward · January 3, 2017

Happy Teens (Dollarphotoclub.com)

No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. (Jn 15:13)

I love the saying, “People come into our lives for a reason, a season, or a lifetime.” As the Christmas season gives way to Valentine’s Day and Lent approaches, how do we relate to our friends?

During this season, new people bump into our lives, some of them for a specific reason. Usually, the reason doesn’t become clear immediately, perhaps only in the rear-view mirror of time. Often only the Lord knows the reason he puts new friends within our circle of influence.

New people

So pray about the new people in your life. Ask the Lord to guide you in sorting out where they belong in your life—whether it is a neighbor you barely know, a co-worker you tolerate or a newcomer to a ministry where you serve.

As our extended family, friends deserve our time, attention and love because of our relationships. And like our family, some of them seek us out for a reason, such as their need or ours to rejoice or cry together, to support each other spiritually or emotionally. Some are intimately involved in our life for a season, such as in a pastoral relationship, ministry, carpool or career.

Dearer than family

Some grow dearer to us than family, and we find we need their friendship for a lifetime. They may grow in number each year as we recognize our need to hold them close in our hearts. When we see them or talk to them, after a month or a year apart, no barriers exist to intimate sharing.

As we worship and pray, work and play together in the new year, wherever the Lord may take us, may we draw ever nearer to him and thus to one another — for a lifetime and into eternity.

What new and old relationships need nurturing, and a special place in your life this season?

parishdynamics says:

January 5, 2017 at 6:42 am

Great advice! Sometimes we waste energy and opportunity looking to form friendships with people who for whatever reason won’t reciprocate. More often, we don’t even try, but instead, just cling to the few friends with whom we have a strong affinity. I found freedom and joy when I let go of these patterns and start connecting with the people nearest to me who I previously would never have thought of as a friend. There is a much loneliness in this world, and even the “least” of us can make a difference.

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- Nancy Ward says:
  
  January 5, 2017 at 12:30 pm
  
  Thanks, Kevin, I always appreciate your thoughtful comments.
  
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