A reason, a season. . .

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 New Year’s resolutions and Valentine’s Day approaches, how do we relate to our friends? Many we haven’t seen face-face for months.

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.

People in your life

Pray about the people in your life. The neighbors you drew close to because of your common needs, the ones you missed so much during the coronavirus pandemic and those you haven’t. Ask the Lord to guide you in sorting out where these people 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?

© 2017 (revised 2020) Nancy HC Ward