I’ve been thinking a lot about my friends. I am blessed to have friends that have been in my life for as long as 10 years and as short as a month. I cannot define the impact of my friendships based on the length of time because they each have served a purpose. The 10 year friendships give me insight into who I am in a way. The things that keep those friendships thriving, the ways in which we connect show me ME. 

The friendships that have been around for a shorter time are mostly because of the transitions that I have gone through, changes in location mostly. These have given me comfort and walked with me as I grew through the changes. Initially, when I went through a change in location, I tried to find friends. I based this mostly on the ones that had lasted long, I wanted something similar. It failed catastrophically most of the time. Some places brought out some personality traits more than others and that meant that I gravitated more towards some people than others.

Friends are predestined, we don’t choose them, they come to us. As we progress through different stages of life, the person that we are attracts a certain kind of person. As our character forms, the kind of people we attract will change. Authentic character traits connect to certain people and those people may stay for the long haul. The inauthentic traits may be ones that we take on because of our environment or other influences, these don’t last and that reflects on the friendships that are attracted by them.

Coming to the realization of the predestination of friendship calls for authenticity. Being authentically oneself especially with the ever changing seasons and influences of life is not something a person can achieve in their own strength. I have found that leaning on and yielding to the Holy Spirit everyday and by the wisdom He provides, means that you are positioned to connect with destiny helpers (friends). And once the connection is made, He guides you to be intentional so that you may be a blessing to your friends. 

For You formed my inward parts;

You covered me in my mother’s womb.

I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

Marvelous are Your works,

And that my soul knows very well. – Psalm 139:13-14

New King James Version Bible