Today, I’m grateful for not only having friends, but also great friends.
You might ask what is so great about having great friends.
The answer today lies within the letters of G-R-E-A T!
Below are my mnemonics of the word great!
- Giving
- Respect
- Enjoyable
- Action
- Trust
Although these five letters and words could have been different, these were my first thoughts about having great friends.
My thoughts this morning reflected a recent fundraiser for my church. It was also the blessings that came with it. I had the words “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13 NKJV) To my surprise and wonder, a few of my friends called me and said they wanted to donate instead of buying the popcorn that I was selling. Some even after the four-day fund-raiser ended.
I call that a great friend.
I even received messages from some of my friends who were unable to give, yet they humbled themselves, letting me know that they were praying for me in reaching the established goal I had set for the fund-raiser.
Again, great friends.
When you are willing to share your private victories with someone else, that is also a great friend.
I learned many years ago which is tied to being resilient is that when people call you to share something important in their lives, they chose you specifically to share their success.
We should not take any of that for granted.
Jim Rohn says that you are the average of the five people you spend the most time with. It’s all about relationships and connections.
You Are the Average of the Five People Quote: 5 Lessons
I know that I have written about friends before, which is why I titled this blog “Great Friends,” which is different.
You know you have a great friend when they make it into your journal of the five things to be grateful for, and when you receive an unexpected blessing from them.
Sometimes I ask myself why this person decided to bless me today.
Some of my great friends I’ve known for over twenty years and had the opportunity to have them shed their tears with me and vice versa. It’s that element of trust that they know their secrets are safe with me.
I’ve even heard their cries and seen them cry. Who said that when you cry, you’re any less of a person? Our emotions are who we are in life.
In addition, some of my great friends have made sacrifices for me, and I will never forget their kindness. I’m sure you will understand if you have great friends who are willing to make sacrifices for you as well.
We’ve heard the phrase” Actions speak louder than words.” As I reflect on great friends, their actions do speak louder than words.
“My little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but indeed and truth. -1 John 3:18”
Actions speak louder than words and are more to be regarded.
President Abraham Lincoln confirms the phrase in the vernacular by 1856, writing,
“Actions speak louder than words” is the maxim, and, if true, the South now distinctly says to the North, “Give us the measures, and you take the men.”
Actions Speak Louder Than Words: “The Power of Action Over Words” The Best Speech By Simon Sinek.
Great Friends as those who are “Giving” of themselves to you.
Great Friends “Respect” you for who you are without passing Judgment.
Great Friends are “Enjoyable” to be around, and you enjoy their company.
Great Friends are those who by their “Actions” that speak louder than words.
Great Friends are those who you “Trust” and they trust you.
I have learned that Great Friends will follow up and check on you when you least expect it.
On any given day, our circle of influence will grow beyond our measure for others to see.
What are you doing today to grow your circle of influence with others?
It could be as simple as using the gifts and talents you possess to be kind to those you meet.
I know that I have a neighbor who lives across the street from me, who always has a giving heart. Paul is in his eighties, yet he is always giving of himself to others in the neighborhood.
He’s one of the reasons I’m part of our Neighborhood Crime Watch Program, as he rode with me several years ago, showing me what to look for within our neighborhood or subdivision.
Each of us has different categories of friends that we can call in the middle of the night as we think nothing about it.
I’ll close with the fact that each of us also has specific blind spots we can’t see, but others can see it as it relates to the Johari Window.
How to Use The Johari Window Exercise for Leadership
Today, I challenge you to think about those great friends in your life who see things in you that you don’t see.
“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched – they must be felt with the heart.” – Helen Keller
Great Friends are priceless. These rare creatures will tell you, not what you want to hear, but exactly what you need to hear. I am glad to have a couple of these gifts in my life.