A friend knows all about you, and loves you anyway

We meet many acquaintances in our lives. These are people we work with, go to church with, or meet in various other ways. These people know of us. They don't know us. A true friend knows the good, the bad, and well...... the ugly parts of us. They love us anyway!!!! They don't love you more when you are perky, and less when you have a problem. No, they love you unconditionally. They will be there with you through everything. No matter if it's the happiest event in your life, or the darkest hour in your life. They will not be ready to turn their back on you. They will be ready to help you. Even if that meant just sitting there while you talked or cried.
A real friend realizes that you are human. They know that humans have problems that sometimes are difficult to just toss aside. They realize, of course, that if you are obviously doing something wrong or harmful that they should tell you. However, a real friend won't be quick to disown you. Instead, they will be an encourager, a confidant, and a soft place to fall.
If we have such a friend in our lives we are blessed. I am one of those blessed people!!!! We should cherrish our friends. We should be careful as to not take them for granted. Now if we have Jesus as our Savior we have the very best friend imaginable. Perhaps not in the flesh, but he is always with us. He is never too busy for us. He knows all about us. That in itself is a scary thought!!!! He may not like what we do or say. Yet, without a doubt, He loves us no matter what. He loves us just like we are. That thought just blows my mind!!!!
So let's try to not set out to change what we don't particularly like about our friends. Let's embrace the differences, and possibly learn a thing or two from those differences. After all, if Jesus Christ, perfect like He is, can love us just the way we are, why can't we love other's just the way they are? Ouch!!!! That is hard to swallow isn't it?!!!!!! Hard or not, I do believe it is something to think about.