Day Nineteen Forty Days of Focus: Relationships

"When we consider the blessings of God—the gifts that add beauty and joy to our lives, that enable us to keep going through stretches of boredom and even suffering—friendship is very near the top." —Donald W. McCullough, Mastering Personal Growth. Having and keeping good friends is easier said than done, but what it adds to our lives is more than worth the effort. Although parents and siblings can become good friends, it is important to have friends outside of the family unit as well. This will allow you to interact beyond the norms your family has long since lost awareness of and give room for a voice from outside to speak into your situation. A short definition of a friend: "Someone who will willingly carry your load and ask nothing in return, who will rejoice when you rejoice and mourn when you mourn, who is available when you need them and hangs around even when you don't."