A little bit sharper

Have you ever spent time just thinking about HOW you became friends with your friends? When was the first time you met them? How long did it take you to get to know each other? What are some of your best memories of them?

There's a friend of mine that I've known for about 4 1/2 years. She and I lived on the same hall together freshmen year of college. Funny this is, we didn't really become friends until a year and a half ago, when we attended a leadership conference together. It took us three years to find each other... and ever since, I have loved discussing ideas and beliefs with her. She has challenged me to grow in so many ways.

I have another friend I've known for almost 7 years. He and I don't hang out very often; we only talk on the phone once every eight weeks or so. But I have treasured the time we spend together, whether we're talking about cars, dreaming about our future careers, or just eating some ice cream outside on a nice night. He is the only friend still in my life who remembers what I was like in high school. We have watched each other change as we've grown older.

Nate talked about friends influencing each other - "As iron sharpens iron, a friend sharpens a friend" (Proverbs 27.17). Without these two friends, I would have missed out on so many lessons. Both of them have helped me refine my beliefs and values. They have taught me what it means to be part of a family and how to handle sticky situations.

Which friends have majorly influenced you? Are they leaving a positive mark on your life, or leading you down a path of trouble?

I encourage you to take a few minutes this week and pray about your friendships.

Pray for your friends. Pray for the relationship you have with them. Pray for their families. And ask God if they are healthy friendships or if something needs to change. Because, as Nate has shown, friends really DO have a big impact on you...