Friendship.

When Sarah Clarkson came to visit, we were talking about the movie Nicholas Nickleby how much we both liked it (and how much both our mothers didn't...hee hee). So I watched it last night and was struck with the bond Nicholas and Smike shared. There is one line where Smike says, "You are my family. Please take me with you. I will be your loving and devoted servant, I really will. All I want is to be near you." And Nicholas replies, "From now on the world will deal with you as it does with me and no words of parting will you hear from my lips." And then at the end of the movie the closing line is, "So it is to be concluded that family is not merely those who share blood, but those who are willing to give their blood for the sake of the other." My Dad looked over and asked me what happened to those kind of friendships. I think we've lost them because friendships are no longer commitments, a commitment that used to be as important, albeit different, as marriage. You used to bind yourself to people, a bind that could not be so easily broken with the petty circumstances that often break relationships today. After the movie I searched my heart to see if I have committed myself to my friends, if I was a fair weathered friend or a faithful true one. I realized that all my binding glue for relationships is founded in Christ and as long as I sought Him, He would give me the strength and grace to remain faithful, true, encouraging, supportive, forgiving, and loving, even if I wouldn't myself. Then I felt such a hopeful freedom that I never would have to trust in myself for that which I can not provide and will quickly run out, but that it is in the blood bond with Christ that holds all my other friendships together.