Counting My Blessings Tonight

I am so thankful for how God provides. I have a best friend in NYC, and we talk every day and pray together. When I started reading about the life of Carl Jung a few months ago, I realized that my days of paying money to any counselor who was influenced by him were going to be over. God honored that, and one day my friend, Suzie, said, "Dwayna, let's talk every day and pray together," so we call each other in the mornings and start out our day with prayer. She is so much like me in that she is single with no kids, and we are amazed at how much we have in common. She has worked as a singer and dancer around NYC, and she also writes songs. She is a totally dedicated Christian and takes her life and faith seriously, yet we laugh together and have a great time, even by phone!

I was thinking of how faithful God has been to meet my needs, not just physically but emotionally. I have learned to not "need" anyone like I used to need someone, and I have never been closer to my immediate family members as a result, and I also have the blessing of close friends (something I cannot give to myself.)

A true friend is a gift from God. When you feel a connection with someone and a respect for the person and it is mutual, it is such a gift. My good friends are relationships I don't take for granted and want to guard. These close friends love me for who I really am on the inside; they love my faith in Jesus, and they love Jesus and understand why I want to live for Him. They love Him, too. They understand and appreciate my work, and they have a heart for ministry, too. My close friends are so special to me.

It is not rocket science when we meet a good friend, and it does not take a genius to know when we are not loved by someone or even liked with any depth. Even with deceivers, God lets us sense the truth about someone's pejorative agenda, as we realize that person was no friend after all. It just makes a true friend even more of a treasure.

I am thankful for my friends tonight and my girlfriends especially, with hours passing like minutes in person when we are together. I am sure there was a time in my life where I wanted others to like me and accept me to a fault. One of the best things God ever did was to teach me that I don't need anyone's acceptance but His, and then, when He was ready, He gave me REAL friends who are wise and encourage me to not settle for less that God's best standards in my life. There has not been one "friend" I have given up (not understanding or respecting my desire to live for God) that God has not replaced with someone or something better.

I like the old adage, "If you want to get to know someone, look at her friends." My friends are such compliments to me.