"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." -John 15:13
I think it's an appropriate assumption that we all wonder who are friends are at times. We get in spats, we say things we don't mean, and those with lasting and meaningful friendships apologize. Well, at least those who cognitively feel that it's lasting and meaningful make attempts to apologize and make things right. It's when you do not receive a similar attitude in return that you start to feel confused.
There are people I've wronged and said the wrong things too. I poked fun at a friend's car one too many times. I abandoned my friends for a girl (that girl is now my wife) possibly at times. There are times when my way has been better no matter what they say or try. I'm stubborn and I like my music load and obnoxious at times which has cause conflicts on several occasions. But then you have to realize also that this is the territory of a young man. All cylinders are firing, especially the ones loaded with that macho and over competitive hormone known as Testosterone. It's what makes us who we are. God made us this way, and for good reasons that are not valid to the point of the message here, since the friends I am referring to are all men around my age.
But then it just occurred to me, perhaps they are caught in the same hormonal predicament, and despite my attempts to make things right, they are still trying to decide whether or not I deserve the time of day again. It's confusing, for sure, to consider this. Am I saying they are stubborn like me? Yes, I am. Am I saying that me realizing the nature of my wrongs towards them automatically makes me better than them? No. What I am now saying here is that they deserve my brotherly pity and prayer. I was once in their shoes, and as I grow and realize the stupid things I've said to them or stupid things I did to them, it becomes apparent we are in the same situation, just on a different side of the events. There are friends I would love to make amends with for good and maybe they just have misinterpreted my attempts to make things right. This is possible because I can beat around the bush at times instead of getting right to the point. So perhaps I should get right to the point with things from now on.
So here is my resolution. Pray for these people first off and that they will be receptive to my straight up apology. And when I do offer it, that it is straightforward and honest. Let's get it done.
