Read
16Eating too much honey
can make you sick.
17Don't visit friends too often,
or they will get tired of it
and start hating you.
18Telling lies about friends
is like attacking them
with clubs and swords
and sharp arrows.
19A friend you can't trust
in times of trouble
is like having a toothache
or a sore foot.
20Singing to someone
in deep sorrow
is like pouring vinegar
in an open cut.
Reflect
Balance; it’s the key message in this passage and something that’s required in practically every facet of our lives in order to live peacefully. We’re told to work hard, but not so hard that we’re missing out on time with our families. We’re told to stay active, but it’s important to recognize when our bodies and minds need a break. Here, we’re reminded that a healthy balance is also required in friendships.
To survive life’s ups and downs, we need great friends. We need them to lean on in times of loss and disappointment and to celebrate with in times of achievement and milestones. New friendships with people we feel a deep connection with are exciting and we naturally find ourselves wanting to spend as much time with them as possible. But it’s important to remember balance and the old adage, “Don’t overstay your welcome.”
It’s like your first best friend in elementary school. You discover you have the same interests, the same thoughts, the same likes and dislikes. The world seems brighter when you’re adventuring through it together. But soon irritation sets in, causing spats over ridiculous things. It’s a sign to take a breather. You need some balance back in your life.
As adults we need reminding of this, too. Balance in friendships, work and family provides important perspective and allows you to truly value the time you spend with people. Our actions in these relationships must also be balanced. Sometimes a friend in distress needs a shoulder to cry on and someone willing to listen, not a cheer-up squad that attempts to erase hurt feelings. Being a great friend is about experiencing the roller coaster of life together and finding a balance.
Respond
Heavenly Father, thank you for the special friends you have placed in our lives to help us through its inevitable peaks and valleys. Please help us stay true to them through guidance and support that’s rooted in your word. In your precious name we pray, Amen.
Julie Fitz-gerald
Julie Fitz-Gerald is a freelance journalist, writer and editor based in Uxbridge, Ontario. She has a Bachelor of Journalism degree from Ryerson University and writes about diverse topics from faith to food to clean water. As a regular contributor to Faith Today, as well as numerous trade publications, she is inspired by the stories she gets to tell. Julie’s business has grown over the years to include corporate writing and editing services, ghost writing and book editing.