Closer Than A Brother

Hello My Chocolatiers! I remember a time as a youngster when the holidays would come around giving me an opportunity to see family that I hadn’t seen in quite some time. Family get-togethers were a great time of laughter, especially in my family, as well as a time to engorge on the finer things of life, you know, pie and ice cream. But as I continued to mature I found that my relationships with my friends were much deeper than the relationships I had with my family. It wasn’t because we all fought and didn’t like each other. It was simply because I didn’t see them as often. Today I have active relationships with my parents and siblings and yet there’s something from a friendship beyond the “family bond” that is truly fulfilling. So, what’s so wrong with me?? Have I drank too much Slim fast? Have I dyed my hair too many times? Nope. The king of Israel, Solomon, wrote the book of Proverbs. This guy had tons of money, power, and a huge amount of wives. Can you imagine how many sets of in-laws he had? Trust me, if anyone could say anything about family and friends, he could! Here’s what he had to say about this subject. In Proverbs 18:24b it says that there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother. It also says in Proverbs 27: 9,10 “The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense. Never abandon a friend- either yours or your father’s. When disaster strikes, you won’t have to ask your brother for assistance. It’s better to go to a neighbor than to a brother far away”. And lastly, Proverbs 27:17 says, “As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend”. King Solomon had so much sound advice to give on friendships. God wants us to have great friends. He should be our closest friend and then our hubbies and so on. I love my family very much and I am loved. However, sometimes a great hug from a friend blesses me more than advice from a family member that I only see twice a year…and that’s ok. Strive to have wonderful relationships with your family. God decided a long time ago for you to have some amazing friendships because he knew that you would be a great friend to have! So, have fun laughing, partying, crying, and even whining to a great girlfriend. Allow yourself to be embarrassed, vulnerable, and trusting with a close friend, since that’s the kind of friend that Jesus is for us. Here’s a scripture verse for us to meditate on. “Bare ye one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ” Galatians 6:2 Love you all, Dede