When you’re growing up, you are encouraged to make friends primarily because it is an important element in emotional and social development. When you’re young it is more about quantity instead of quality. This makes sense because at a young age you are still learning who you are and developing your moral compass. But as you progress through life, your friend meter is refined and so is your friend circle. We become better at defining real friendship and gain the courage to delete those that don’t meet that definition.
Throughout life you have three types of friends: (1) the real friend, (2) the convenient friend, and (3) the fake friend. Everyone has at least one person that regardless of what is going on in life, you know that he or she will always be there for you. No need for fan-fare or empty conversations. A real friend is brutally honest and undeniably supportive. On the other hand, you have the convenient friend who is only your friend when it is convenient for them. The convenient friend makes your friendship a priority on his or her time regardless of your needs or wants. The convenient friend has the façade of a real friend but don’t count on this person when real tragedy strikes.
Now the fake friend is the one that you have to recognize and keep at bay. They are your bestie in your face but bash you behind your back. They bask in your failures and is the last person to celebrate your successes. This person is dangerous because they have mastered the art of being fake. Somehow the fake friend can convince you that they are a better friend than the real friend despite only being in your life because it is beneficial to them. They often try to sabotage your relationship with others and inevitably leave you isolated and friendless. Unfortunately, most of us have experienced the plight of the fake friend.
An important lesson that I have learned over the years is that friendship, I mean true friendship, requires effort on both sides. Whenever I felt like I was doing all the work to keep the friendship going, I would get so frustrated and try so hard to salvage what we once had but as I matured I realized that the distance was intentional. Sometimes God removes people from your life because those people aren’t meant to grow with you. Those you leave behind are only meant for that particular season. They may have been one of those fake friends that needed to be banished from your life. The irony is that those that end up on the chopping block often resent this treatment and resort to behavior that further prove why they should no longer be in your circle. Recognizing seasonal friends actually allows you to realize the blessing of real friendship. By letting go, you will have more time to focus on being a better person instead of chasing dying friendships.
I'm tremendously grateful for those friends that have transcended friendship and are now family.
“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” Proverbs 27:17 NIV
Forever Fierce, Fabulous & Flawless!
Tenisha
Throughout life you have three types of friends: (1) the real friend, (2) the convenient friend, and (3) the fake friend. Everyone has at least one person that regardless of what is going on in life, you know that he or she will always be there for you. No need for fan-fare or empty conversations. A real friend is brutally honest and undeniably supportive. On the other hand, you have the convenient friend who is only your friend when it is convenient for them. The convenient friend makes your friendship a priority on his or her time regardless of your needs or wants. The convenient friend has the façade of a real friend but don’t count on this person when real tragedy strikes.
Now the fake friend is the one that you have to recognize and keep at bay. They are your bestie in your face but bash you behind your back. They bask in your failures and is the last person to celebrate your successes. This person is dangerous because they have mastered the art of being fake. Somehow the fake friend can convince you that they are a better friend than the real friend despite only being in your life because it is beneficial to them. They often try to sabotage your relationship with others and inevitably leave you isolated and friendless. Unfortunately, most of us have experienced the plight of the fake friend.
An important lesson that I have learned over the years is that friendship, I mean true friendship, requires effort on both sides. Whenever I felt like I was doing all the work to keep the friendship going, I would get so frustrated and try so hard to salvage what we once had but as I matured I realized that the distance was intentional. Sometimes God removes people from your life because those people aren’t meant to grow with you. Those you leave behind are only meant for that particular season. They may have been one of those fake friends that needed to be banished from your life. The irony is that those that end up on the chopping block often resent this treatment and resort to behavior that further prove why they should no longer be in your circle. Recognizing seasonal friends actually allows you to realize the blessing of real friendship. By letting go, you will have more time to focus on being a better person instead of chasing dying friendships.
I'm tremendously grateful for those friends that have transcended friendship and are now family.
“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” Proverbs 27:17 NIV
Forever Fierce, Fabulous & Flawless!
Tenisha
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