You've got a friend in me

Today brings a challenge I've never known, watching two 1 year olds.  My friend's father is in the hospital, so her daughter is over for the day so that she can spend time at the hospital.  It is amazing how much more work two babies are than one.  As I went about my morning, I began to notice 2 things. 

#1 Together they seemed to find trouble much faster than one of them would alone.  I turned around for just a second and a glass was broken, turned around another second and they were both halfway up the stairs.  Alone they were pretty well behaved, but together they seemed more comfortable with their decision to disobey. 

#2 They express love and compassion without restraint.  At one point Kellan had fallen and was crying, seeing Kellan's tears Laynie broke into tears herself.  She couldn't help but cry with her friend in distress.  At another point Laynie was frustrated that she couldn't climb up on the toy she wanted and Kellan came running to try to help her.

So these observations about young friends brings 2  questions about the friends we keep as adults. 

#1 Do we surround ourselves with people who make us feel more comfortable with our disobedience to God or do we surround ourselves with people who bring out the best in us?

Proverbs 13:20 says He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.

Our friends can either bring out obedience to God or a compliance with sin.  Sometimes the familiar, comfortable choice is not the best.  Taking up our cross and following Christ was never about comfort, it was about obedience. 

#2 Have we chosen friends that will be there for us when we really need them?  Are our friends the kind that will weather the storm with us? 

Proverbs 17:17 says A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need.

Our friends, like our character aren't really shown until we are going through a storm.  If these past few years has opened my eyes to anything it has been what a true friend looked like.  I was amazed at how my friends (you know who you are) have comforted me, brought out the best in me, challenged my thinking and loved me through it all.  I pray that the Lord will help me become the kind of friend that they have been to me. 

Now back to changing diapers and wiping faces.