| There are two basic qualities required in a friend. | | | | Until He sent a friend. |
| The first is illustrated in the following poem: | | | | Another major ingredient in the perfect |
| As Flowers Grow | | | | “friend” recipe is your presence. Friends |
| As flowers grow | | | | spend time with each other helping and |
| Their beauty soothes | | | | encouraging. It is difficult to be a friend from far |
| The eyes within their reach. | | | | away unless you were friends before one of you |
| As friendships grow | | | | moved away. |
| Our hearts accept | | | | Long distance love relationships are tough, and so |
| The faults that lie in each. | | | | are long distance friendships. For a friend to help |
| I remember wondering why one of the smartest | | | | keep you from quitting during discouraging |
| fellows in my high school class was such a close | | | | moments, he needs to be there with you. |
| friend. I did not feel worthy of his companionship, | | | | Christians find discouragement to be one of |
| mostly because he was a straight “A” | | | | Satan’s top tools to hinder their service. I |
| student. Yet, we visited each other’s homes | | | | have a hard time thinking of a more potent |
| in the summer and spent a lot of time together | | | | weapon. I am glad I Corinthians 10:13 is still in the |
| at school. | | | | Bible. In a nutshell the verse says there is nothing |
| Looking back at that unique relationship and | | | | that Satan can tempt us with that we cannot |
| analyzing it, I finally concluded that our friendship | | | | handle with God’s help. |
| was based on one major ingredient: acceptance. | | | | When everyone seems to be against you though |
| We accepted each other for who we were-faults | | | | you know you are right; when loneliness threatens |
| included. | | | | to undue your resolve to continue; when |
| This was a major lesson for me and helped me | | | | circumstances cry out, “Where is God when |
| later on in life, including in my marriage. The | | | | you need Him?”; know that God has not left |
| differences between men and women require an | | | | you. He is allowing you to be tested that you |
| acceptance of each other’s faults if they are | | | | might grow in Him. |
| to get along in wedlock. | | | | He may just be seeing if you will have the |
| “As Flowers Grow” is an expression of | | | | courage to continue to trust Him for your needs. |
| this truth. Just as flowers have no choice but to | | | | After all, dis-couragement is nothing more than a |
| be beautiful-it is their job, they have to be or | | | | lack of courage to continue relying on Him. |
| they stop being flowers...so friendships have no | | | | Discouragement is not a symptom but a problem |
| choice but to accept the faults in others or they | | | | in itself. |
| must stop being friends. | | | | It is true that we are blessed by the |
| This next poem showcases the second quality of | | | | companionship and caring of others. Their |
| a true friend. | | | | company dispels loneliness and temporarily drives |
| Encouragement | | | | discouragement away. And as we grow and learn |
| The lonely task | | | | to handle discouragement better from our |
| Was long and hard; | | | | experience, we become better able to go on the |
| My joy was at an end. | | | | offensive and learn to encourage others as the |
| Discouragement | | | | acceptance and presence of our friends |
| Had all but won. | | | | encourages us. |