3. Have Compassion for Their Situation
Every person’s life is different. No matter how similar your life may seem to your friend, recognize that her home, family makeup, children’s personalities, work schedule, and spouse may be vastly different than yours. It can be easy to form opinions of other people’s availability and capacity to complete tasks based on what we see on the outside. Instead, we should seek to always have understanding and compassion.
Rather than be frustrated when they aren’t available or have failed to meet your expectation, seek to have compassion. We see throughout the gospels that Jesus had compassion when He encountered people who were facing various scenarios. In situations where he could have been angry or annoyed at those who were hungry, sick, or confused about the gospel, He chose to simply act out of compassion. It was his compassion that healed the woman with the issue of blood who had been silently suffering. It was through compassion that Jesus would restore the ear of a person seeking to arrest him (Luke 22:51). If we want to cultivate healthy relationships, we must be slow to anger with one another and seek understanding. As we learn the other person’s need, we can seek to offer a helping hand and show the friend in need that they have our support.
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” (Colossians 3:12)
4. Celebrate with Them
Real friends support one another. If your friend starts a business, be the first to shout them out! If your friend is expecting, be excited with her and think of ways to help her throughout her pregnancy! Sadly, in a world full of comparison, we can hear of our friends’ great news and think, “What about me?” Before long, instead of celebrating their accomplishment or life milestone, their great news becomes our pity party. True friends can overcome their personal feelings to encourage and uplift the other person. If no one else recognizes their hard work and accomplishment, seek to be the friend who cheers them on in public and in private!
“Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.” (Romans 12:15)
Related: Listen to our FREE Podcast on Stress! The Stress Less Podcast with Bonnie Gray. You can listen to the first episode right here. For more episodes, visit LifeAudio.com!
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