Going PlacesSample

What's the very first thing every good road trip needs? A car? Snacks? A good playlist?

The first thing you need is a plan. You need to know where you're trying to go. Is your road trip bound for the beach? The mountains? The big city? The countryside? There are no wrong answers, but you need to know your destination. You're not going to magically appear someplace fabulous. You need to devise a plan of how you're going to get there.

We need a solid plan when it comes to road trips, but we also need a solid plan when it comes to friendships. A lot of people think that taking care of our friends just happens automatically. We think that if our intentions are good, then our friends will get the point without us having to do anything.

But taking care of our friends is like going on a road trip. You need to make a plan for how you're going to show care, kindness, and compassion toward your friends. Usually, the first step is to listen. Instead of coming to your friend with a plan, it is best to ask questions so that you can learn how you can care for your friends right where they are. Listening will help you build a road map for your friendship.

Sometimes listening takes sacrifice, but when we set aside our plans to care for our friends well, the Bible says it pleases God too.