There are some things I’m pretty terrible at, like parallel parking. Lets just say, I’ll keep circling the block for another space, lest I take someones bumper off.
Anything related to hand eye coordination, pretty much not my thing. Or any coordination for that matter.
I am spatially challenged. Finding the right sized Tupperware for leftovers always leads to enchiladas spilling over the sides or enough room for the one slice of meatloaf to rattle around in the hollow and I have rearranged an entire room of furniture only to realize that the couch will absolutely not fit there and have to move it back.
But there are also things that I am good at.
I can make people laugh, usually at me. I have no shortage of embarrassing moments with which to put your mind at ease that there are indeed ways in which your life could be worse, or at least more humiliating. Walking around all day with your dress tucked up in your underpants. Done it. Just a little side note, if you see someone walking around with their Jockey bikini cuts holding half of their skirt up in the rear, please tell them.
I am honest, to a fault sometimes, don’t ever ask me something you don’t really want to know.
I am loyal. A friend loves at all times and once I call you a friend, I will. I can listen when you’re having a rough time. I can tell you the truth about how beautiful God made you and the areas where Jesus shines in you.
I have a special radar that senses when someone is uncomfortable or feeling left out and alone and I will rally around them to pull them in.
I can use my words to bring life and lift up.
I am good at being genuinely happy for the blessings and successes of those I love even if things in my life aren’t working out. I can love you and care for your soul.
But I am also good at sharp words spoken in haste. I am good at being cynical and seeing the downside to everything.
I am good at holding a grudge and being slow to forgive.
I am good at overreacting to stresses and feeling overwhelmed by demands on my time. I am good at being selfish with my alone time and not wanting to make an effort. I can be flaky and cancel plans often. I can hate commitment and being locked into anything.
I can choose isolation and solitude out of ease instead of pursuing community.
We choose. Each day we choose to be the better friend or the worse one.
We choose to love.
We choose joy.
We choose grace and forgiveness.
We choose to focus on the things that are good, that bind hearts and bring hope. We choose to overlook the things that break hearts and tears bonds. We choose to cover the flaws of those around us in grace and draw out the gifts that God has blessed them with. We choose what we will be good at, what we will practice and how we will respond.
Choose to be the kind of girlfriend that you would want your daughter to have. The one who loves her and cherishes her and never speaks words of hurt or jealousy. The one that tells her the truth wrapped in kind and gentle words when she needs to hear it. The one who never excludes her or plays games to manipulate her or uses her. The one who sees all the qualities that make her unique and beautiful and praises them. The one that has her back no matter what.
We can choose to look at friendship through love’s glorious filter. Or we can choose to be alone.
Choose to be a good friend.
What are some choices you’ve made in friendships? What are some of the things you know you’re good at or wish you weren’t good at? Are you choosing to be a good friend?
This is an amazing post. Seroiusly. Like it had me smiling, nodding and then holding my heart in agreement of the negative traits.
I am SO BLESSED to have been connected with you.
Thank you for sharing your journey, which in a LOT of ways, is my own journey.
*hugs*
Meredith, Thanks! Blessed to be connected with you as well. It’s a gift to have someone along for the ride.
That is a wonderful thing. I say it all the time about other things. I guess it boils down to: if you are being all the people you want your people to be surrounded with, you’ll be your best you. Maybe they won’t settle for less.
maggie S. recently posted..New Season of Life; Handling Blessing
Maggie, totally.I always try to think about that when I am not being a good friend. When I am being selfish or unforgiving. I think about the mean girls I’ve encountered in my life and pray my daughter avoids the hurts that can come from fickle friendships. Choose to be a good friend and “Maybe they won’t settle for less.” Love it. Good to hear from you friend.
Wait, that was my old info…I moved.
maggie S. recently posted..Trying to be Super Proud in the Middle of All This Tired.
Alia,
Choices i’ve made… I suck at friendship right now. I have hurt people, isolated, held grudges…. and hurt a lot myself. Even though it doesn’t appear to hold any truth… I love you & the ties we have that made us friends a while back, still I hold dear in my heart. I miss you. I ache for connection, but unlike u I have a hard time seeing past myself to reach out to others. I wish I wasn’t so good at these qualities. Thank you for sharing your heart thru your blog. It helps. A lot.
Shannon, A good friend loves at all times and I do love you even in the midst of whatever things you’ve been going through and even though we don’t connect often. We all go through times when it’s hard to reach past ourselves and honestly, it doesn’t come naturally to me either. I have to work at choosing grace and love and joy and I don’t always make the right ones. We are the people of second chances, and third and fourth and… We are the people of grace and we get the oppurtunity to make each day matter and each day we can right the wrongs we’ve done by accepting that grace and then extending it. I am so glad that this blog has been a helping place for you. To be truly connected means allowing others into our messes and believing the best while telling the truth. I’m here for you Shannon. Whenever you want to “connect.”
Oh, Alia. You are not alone, sister. From one spatially challenged girl to another
Anne, I guess we won’t be doing any furniture moving or after dinner clean up together.