A Friendship Centered On Christ

A Friendship Centered on Christ

[Mary] entered the house and greeted Elizabeth. At the sound of Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth’s child leaped within her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Elizabeth gave a glad cry and exclaimed to Mary, “God has blessed you above all women, and your child is blessed. Why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should visit me? . . . You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said.” Luke 1:40-45

We all need a few friends with whom we can be real and transparent, friends who will keep what we share in confidence and respond with love in times of need or joy. Even research shows the benefits: When women get stressed, talking things through with a girlfriend releases the hormone oxytocin, which is profoundly calming, a balm for mind and body. No wonder we feel better after talking to a gal pal!

Elizabeth was that kind of friend to Mary. In the midst of the storm of a pregnancy that could shake Mary’s whole world, Elizabeth’s home was an oasis for her cousin. Elizabeth listened and shared her wisdom and her strong faith. But their friendship was not selfishly motivated: It was inspired by and centered on Christ from the outset.

Christian author Eugenia Price found that she needed that kind of friend in times of crisis, someone who understood her and provided companionship in some of her darkest days. During a difficult year when Eugenia’s father was critically ill, Rosalind Rinker was that kind of friend. She prayed with Eugenia and with Eugenia’s mother. She prepared meals for them. When Eugenia had spent long hours at the hospital and was too upset to sleep, Rosalind let her talk. Rosalind was there. And if Eugenia had ever needed a friend, she needed one during those endless weeks while her beloved dad lay dying.

Although the friendship between Rosalind and Eugenia was secure, it wasn’t centered on just themselves. It was centered in Jesus Christ, who was the source of their security. They knew that in their humanness they could fail each other but that he would never fail or forsake them. When our friendships are centered in Christ in this way, we not only enjoy one another in the best of times and support one another in the worst of times; we look outward and fulfill God’s purposes as well. —CHERI

Lord Jesus, help me to be the kind of friend who is present in times of difficulty, who keeps confidences and can be trusted. Most of all, may my friendships be centered in you.

Many people will walk in and out of your life. But only true friends will leave footprints in your heart. —ANONYMOUS