There has been something on my heart for a while now, but I couldn’t decide how to express it until now. That thing is friendship and the lack of it in today’s modern society. This lack is not something new, and it may not be something everyone experiences, but I’ve felt it and seen it creeping like a shadow over my social circles and family for years.
What has happened to true friendship?
What is it? Do we still know?
Is it worth it in today’s society?
Has it changed over the years?
Can we find it again after losing it?
These are a few of the questions I would like to explore for the next few months.
The plan is to do this slowly, taking time to mull over the word ‘friend’ itself first and what it means. Then moving on to related words and personal experiences I’ve had. If there’s anything in particular, you would like to me write about, drop a comment below and I’ll do my best to add it to the list. Got a question about friendship? Ask it and we can explore it together.
Do you have friends? Many? A few? Just one?
Are they good friends, or do you consider them fair weather?
Are YOU a friend? A good one? A bad one?
Do you want to learn how to be a better friend?
I won’t profess that I’m any kind of expert on the subject, but I also won’t shy away from the fact that it’s very important to me and I have learned how to be a good friend. I’m one of those people who love very deeply. If I make a friend in person I will never forget them.
I believe friendship is one of the most important things to build within human relationships. We all crave the intimacy and connection that it holds. So why does it seem like it’s becoming harder and harder to find in a true, or strong form? Or am I perhaps mistaken and friendships are thriving, but it’s me who has for some reason become blind to it? This is also a possibility.
What do YOU think? Is friendship on the decline?
Copyright ©2023 Mary Grace van der Kroef
Forthcoming Post – On Friendship: The Word Friend
Forthcoming Post – On Friendship: The Word Enemy
This is an area God’s blessed me with the last couple of years. I have several strong Christian friends who I meet with regularly. What’s funny, is I definitely couldn’t say this a few years ago. It was a prayer in my heart, but I was too prideful and self-righteous to allow another person in my life, at least on a deep level. I think that’s the world’s problem too. Either we’re too judgmental or we’re too ashamed of our “real” selves, not wanting to seek friendship if it means being vulnerable. I can understand that because I lived it. But it’s so much better to take the leap and trust that God is putting certain people in your life to grow you as His child.
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Very true. I think a lot of people have no idea how to even BE vulnerable in a healthy way. We bounce between isolation and codependency like ping pong balls.
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Yep!
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