Friends by Design

In friendship…we think we have chosen our peers. In reality a few years’ difference in the dates of our births, a few more miles between certain houses, the choice of one university instead of another…the accident of a topic being raised or not raised at a first meeting–any of these chances might have kept us apart. But, for a Christian, there are, strictly speaking no chances. A secret master of ceremonies has been at work. Christ, who said to the disciples, “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you,” can truly say to every group of Christian friends, “Ye have not chosen one another but I have chosen you for one another.” The friendship is not a reward for our discriminating and good taste in finding one another out. It is the instrument by which God reveals to each of us the beauties of others.”   -C.S. Lewis

I LOVE THAT QUOTE!!!  And I couldn’t agree with it more than I do.  I believe that the people who come into our lives and become our friends doesn’t just happen by accident.  I believe that we are meant to meet one another and impact one another’s lives for the better.  When I look at the circumstances that have brought so many of the important people into my life it is so clear to me that there was divine powers at work bringing those people into my path. That same thing applies to my husband and my children coming into my life. I know they didn’t end up in my life just by accident or circumstance, they were meant to be in my life and my in theirs.

That is why I think it is so important to be aware of the people that come into your life.  Even those people you might think are just passing through…ask yourself, “could there be more to why this person was brought into my life to cross paths with me?”  If you keep that mindset you will find yourself far more aware as new people enter your surroundings.  You will watch for and notice those people far more and you will find yourself being far more receptive to getting to know people and forming new friendships.

This week as my family and I have been participating in some really fun activities together we have made a point to talk to any other families around us in these activities.  The people around us this week are total strangers to us from many parts of the world who would fall into the category of most likely “passer-byers” but what if they aren’t? What if someone we meet this week is meant to have far greater meaning in our lives.  Wouldn’t it be a shame then not to get to know them and form a friendship?  And so we have all been talking to strangers around us and already we have made friends with several families.  We may or may not see any of them ever again, and may or may not be impactful in our lives in the future or we in theirs, but what if they can and do?  Wouldn’t it be worth having made the efforts to get to know them just on the possibility alone?  I believe it is.  I have seen how worth it it can be in my own life, both personally and professionally.  And without a doubt I believe that God is constantly leading people into our path to bring out the beauty in each other.

Today’s challenge is to pay attention to the people coming into your path…believe there is a purpose for them being there…then set out to form a friendship that will help bring that purpose to fruition.

Have a great day everyone.

~Amy

1 Comment

  • leslie says:

    Great post. And I truly believe that, as you said, the divine planning begins with those in our own families. Surprisingly, we often have more trouble seeing that with them than we do with strangers, but God put them into our lives to “bring out the beauty in each other.” I’m so glad you are in mine.

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