Two Are Better Than One - Good Friends Sacrifice for Each Other

Sacrifices. What does that word bring to mind? Does it bring to mind the sacrifice made for us when Jesus died on the cross? Does it make you think of the sacrifice of life on behalf of another? Or maybe the sacrifice of money or some other thing of great and costly importance.
When I first hear the word that is what I think of. Yet, do we mean you to go give your life for your friends? Um, no, you only have one life after all and cannot give it for all your friends.

Now, maybe someday some of you will have the chance to give your life for a friend – maybe not. What I am getting at is that you do not have to make huge, life altering sacrifices to be a good friend.

What are things that can be sacrificed though?What about time? Feelings? Selfishness.
I am a very busy person. I work, write, edit, take flute lessons, grammar lessons, help in a children program, and attend a Bible study. Among this there is my family I must make time for, and house work.

Katie has school work from morning until before dinner. She has chores, younger siblings to help with, and like me her family she makes time for. Now, we both have the perfect excuses, and they are not even excuses, of reasons not to spend time together. Yet, we learned soon off that if we did not make time for each other we were not as close. After a lot of struggles we determined to set aside time for each other, even though it was not easy.

I have come to learn that sacrificing time is one of the best things you can do for a friend. If I make time, even half an hour for a friend, they feel well loved and I find that I grow closer to them. One does not have to spend a lot of time, not saying that spending a lot of time is bad or should be avoided. However, sometimes we do not have a lot of time and fifteen minutes of conversation – meaningful conversation – or just being together can do wonders.

Sacrificing time cannot be done in a grudging manner. This sometimes requires us to sacrifice feelings. Also we can sacrifice feelings if, being in a good mood, we see our friend is suffering. Instead of bounding about like all is well sometimes a hug and an understanding spirit is better. Or, if we are having a bad day and see they are excited about something why ruin their excitement. These actions require us to sacrifice selfishness.

Now, I by no means mean you should always have the same feelings as your friend. Sometimes you will be sad or excited about something and it is very much all right to share that with a true friend. Just do not make everything about you, always having everything your way or your friend always being sad because you are or happy because you are. Sacrifice for them as well.

These are some areas of sacrifice. I am certain as you look at yourself you will be able to find other areas as well. Yet, finding them is not enough, we need to do them. After all, friends are well worth them!