ARE YOU A GOOD FRIEND?

By Vernalee

In 1984, hip hop group, Whodini had an amazing hit. It was called “Friends/How many of you have them?” The lyrics are quite deep. I invite you to listen. In this journey of friendships, we meet many people that we befriend. Some become actual friends; true stand by your side friends. Some fall by the wayside.

Time and actions never fail to identify who’s who. The statement. "the more the merrier" does not necessarily apply to friendship. It’s not the number; it's the sincerity. It is wise to be choosy. Being a good friend isn’t always easy, but taking the time to nurture a lasting friendship is worth every ounce of the effort. Of course, to have a good friend, you must be one! I believe that you often attract who you are. I am blessed to have a few true friends; many of which have been around for years. They care; I care. I love them; they love me. We have laughed together, cried together, shared secrets that can never be told, and have been there for each other. Geography may in some cases separate us, but our souls remain close. Making/keeping friends is no easy task. It’s a lot of work! We all fall short and need regular tune-ups.

Let’s take a look: Being Trustworthy: 1. Keep your promises. 2. Apologize when you’ve made a mistake. 3. Be honest. 4. Don’t use people. 5. Be loyal. 6. Be respectful. Being Supportive: 1. Be selfless. 2. Be a good listener. 3. Help your friends deal with their struggles. 4. Be there in a time of crisis. 5. Give thoughtful advice. 6. Give your friend some space when he/she needs it. Making your friendship last: 1. Learn to forgive. 2. Accept your friend for who he/she is. 3. Go beyond. 4. Stay in touch no matter what. 5. Let your friendship evolve. So that our friendships not suffer when we are busy, we can do the following: 1. Make a date. Get on their calendar. 2. Your phone is always with you. Use it to stay in touch - call, email, and text. 3. Make the most of your time. Get together. 4. Practice random acts of kindness. 5. Use Social media. Since friendships take work, add these tidbits to your list. 1. Make sure they’re okay the moment you sense something wrong. … 2. Know when to be serious and when to be goofy. … 3. Go the extra mile when they ask for help. … 4. Don’t give up on them during their darkest hours. … 5. Make them feel wanted. … 6. Tell them, “I got your back,” at least once (and mean it.) Are you a good friend? Are you there for your friends? Do you care for them and love them? Are you respectful of them and their time? Are you envious and jealous of their accomplishments or happy and delighted that they succeed? What’s the answer? Don’t ask me! Ask your friends! Photo credit: www.pininterest.com; Source: www.wikihow.com; www.selfstairway.com; www.fastcompany.com

FIGHTING OTHER FOLK'S BATTLES

By Vernalee

Lend a helpful hand when it’s deserving, but be selective on the battles that you elect to fight. Hopefully, by now you have realized that you cannot always fight other folks‘ battles and go out on the limb for them. Good person you are; fool you are not! For goodness sake, stop fighting battles for unworthy folks, particularly when they gracefully stand on the sidelines. Can they not fight for themselves? Once again, they continue to benefit from the fruitage of your labor and energies! It begs to ask a few simple questions: Who is tired and worn out from being on the battlefield? – You!

Who is benefiting from your victories and is well rested? – Them!

Get the point! Photo credit: pininterest

SEPARATING THE WHEAT FROM THE CHAFF

By Vernalee

Cruising down memory lane, the cotton fields indeed left unforgettable memories. During the summer, you laboriously walked from one end of the cotton field to the other in the blazing hot sun chopping down the weeds from the cotton plants. This removal was necessary to allow the crop to produce white snowy cotton for picking. It was the separation process that determined the outcome and purity of the harvest. Our lives are no different. Some of our associations are valuable; some are not. We have to remove the badness from our presence to allow our goodness and quality to blossom. Unlike noticeable weeds, sometimes the badness in people can’t be immediately seen. Invariably, their actions will reveal their naughtiness. Once their ugliness raises its head, if you don’t remove yourself from their midst, you are subjected to continued infestation. The wheat has worth; the chaff is worthless! An alignment with worthiness produces prosperity.

It is by far the better position ... because nothing from nothing leaves nothing! It’s as simple as that! Photo credit: www.aven.amritalearning.com