Dead Friendships

What is the most toxic ingredient that make a dead friendship? For me it's the lack of nourishment...and I'm guilty!! I get into my routines of work at the church and at home and don't create that time required to enrich friendships and prevent them from dying. I'll admit, there are those fews friendships where you just seem to pick up where you left off no matter how long it's been since you last talked but for the most part absence does not make the heart grow fonder.

This coming week I realize I have scheduled a little time almost every single day to visit with friends...over dinner, lunch, after work and on my 'precious' day off. It's a good thing to look forward to these moments and push my selfishness with my time to the back burner. Kind of freeing actually. It's not easy for me to do but I treasure friendships and want to be a good friend to those who are so important to me. I've been meaning to take this step for a long time and can't explain my sudden action but I'm sure glad it happened...maybe that prayer thing for growth and motivation is working :)

One friendship that I will really work on is with a good friend who is leaving our church staff for family leave in only one week. Rev. Alexandra Robinson has been on our staff for 5 years now and has chosen to take some time to be home with her 2 year old twin boys. Lucky for me, the Robinsons live close to us so I can easily continue to nurture that friendship and hopefully continue to be a big part of the boy's lives as they grow. The friendship with Alex has always been easy because we've worked closely toward a common goal at the church. Now it's exciting to think of that friendship existing just because.

This week, think of friend with whom you feel you need to reconnect and reach out to that person. Write a actual letter that you put in the mail or pick up the phone and schedule a time to get together. I'll bet it will be a blessing for you both.