The Heart Of A Friendship

The LORD doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.

“Cannonball!” Chloe’s voice echoed off the backyard trees as she bounced up and off the diving board, tucking her feet underneath to make the biggest splash possible.

Surfacing, she heard the pool gate squeak as her best friend Dakota closed it behind her.

“Did you get a new swimsuit?” Chloe asked. “It’s so cute!”

Chloe liked her own swimsuit just fine. But watching Dakota walk toward the pool, she couldn’t help but think that Dakota’s new gray tankini looked prettier and much more flattering than Chloe’s faded yellow-and-purple floral swimsuit.

As Dakota jumped in the water and made her way toward Chloe, a bit of jealousy curled through Chloe, clouding the day. Instead of enjoying the sunny skies, sparkling blue water, and bright blue tiles under her feet, all Chloe could see was her own outdated swimsuit. Compared to Dakota, Chloe felt plain and awkward, and it spoiled her good mood.

But as the day wore on, Chloe gradually forgot about the jealousy she felt, instead focusing on the refreshing pool and how much fun she always had with Dakota.

We need to be happy for our friends when they have nice things, while also remembering that nice things are not what make us important or worthwhile. Like Chloe, you may sometimes wish things were different, and the world around us doesn’t make it any easier. Advertisements show us trendy clothes, beautiful people, and cool toys and gadgets. But instead of wishing we could possess something our friend owns or look the way she does, we need to remember that nothing can ever have greater importance than the inward beauty God gave us.

God made us the way we are—on purpose!—and he doesn’t make mistakes. In fact, he doesn’t see things the way we do at all—because he is looking at our heart. When he looks at us, he sees beauty, whether we’re wearing the latest fashions or a piece we’ve owned for a while. Let’s intentionally focus on the beauty of our friendships instead of worrying about what we have or how we look.

Things to Think About

• Do you ever get jealous of your friends? How do you respond when you’re tempted to compare yourself with someone else?
• What are some things about you that your friends value? What does God say about you?

DAILY ACT OF FRIENDSHIP

The next time you feel jealous, remind yourself of the reasons you like your friend for who she is, regardless of what she owns or looks like.