Yesterday we looked at how easily we can fall into laziness maintaining friendships. This prompted me to think more about friends. What makes people connect and move from acquaintances to become friends? You might want to answer this question in the forum.
The biggest difference we have found since coming to our current church, is we have made not acquaintances but friends, friends we will one day share eternity with.
So how can you make friends not acquaintances? Some ideas I came up with are:
Taking time to listen
Too often people don’t listen but are waiting to get their say in the conversation almost before a pause has occurred. The prominence of talk back radio, I believe, is a direct result of people finding they have no-one to talk to who’ll listen to them. If this is true, it’s a sad comment on our society.
Look interested
Look at the person talking. Look them in the eye. Have you ever been with someone and as you’re talking their eyes are darting around the, looking to see if there is anyone more interesting to talk to. It’s unsettling.
Communication
Talk to each other and not just about superficial things but deeper issues.
Laughter
When I am with my closest friends, we spend a lot of time laughing. We don’t have to be doing anything special just ‘hanging out’ and enjoying each other’s company is enough.
Common interests
Common interests are good but not essential. Some of my best friends are gardeners and into creative crafts, neither of which I have any skills or great interest in. Does it matter? Not a bit. Because we a share other things in common, such as our Christian faith, a love of music, reading etc.
I’ve found my closest friends are those I’ve been in bible study with, currently or in the past. They listen to my joys and problems and I listen to theirs and support them in prayer. It’s reciprocal.
Don’t forget to join me for part 2 of looking at what turns and an acquaintance into a friend.
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