Friendships That LastSample

Grateful for Friendship

We are surrounded by people—in our families, communities, and churches. However, we may not always stop to think about how important these people are to us and to God. It can be easy to live each day without stopping to be grateful for the people God has so carefully placed in our lives. As the apostle Paul reminds us, it is important to give thanks for and to these friends.

Paul models showing gratefulness for people in his letters. We can show gratefulness for others in these ways:

1. Pray for God to bless the person.
2. Thank God for the person.
3. Show the person that you are grateful for him or her.

Take a moment to reflect on the friends you are grateful for. Thank God for blessing you with these people! Then, think of a specific person you are grateful for and a reason you are grateful for him or her. Perhaps this person is always there to comfort you when you feel alone or afraid. Perhaps this person has helped you to see a problem from a different perspective. Take time to ask God to bless this person, and thank Him for this valued friendship. Take time to show your gratitude to this person as well. When you do these things, your relationships will grow.

• How can you show gratitude for a friend today?
• What steps can you take to develop a habit of thanking God for your friendships?