“Experts who track the changing vocabulary of the English language chose “unfriend” as the New Oxford American Dictionary Word of the year for 2009” (Daily Bread). I noticed that my spell check did not recognize the two new words “unfriend” or “friended.” Unfriend means “to remove someone as a friend on a social networking site such as Facebook.” Facebook (FB) allows your chosen “friends” to have access to view your personal FB page. You may never meet, communicate, or hug them, but they are now your FB friend. In this cyber generation it seems “friend” has been greatly over exaggerated until it has lost its true value. One woman proudly said, “I have over a thousand friends.” Really! Have you ever been “unfriended?” How did it make you feel? Did you feel that you really lost a friend? When you are unfriended do you then unfriended them because they unfriended you. This does not sound very friendly. Now answer these questions. How many FB friends do you have? How many non-FB friends do you have? “Who are your real friends? I teach that if you have five faithful friends, you are very fortunate. After I taught, I asked a person, “Will you be my friend?” She said, “Sorry, I already have my five.” Oh, Well!
Everyone needs a friend as Paul to be your mentor, a Timothy you can teach and encourage (IITim. 1:2), an Onesiphorus to refresh you (IITim. 1:16), a Priscilla and Aquila to fellowship and share life with you (Rom. 16:3), and a Luke who is always “there” when needed (IITim. 4:11). Naturally, if you are a woman, you need a Pauline, Tina, Opal, Priscilla, and a Louise. I am grateful the Lord has favored Carlene, and me with many “seasonal” and “faithful” friends who were “there” when needed. There are times we are not in touch, but we remain “friends” because of the “moments” and “memories” we shared and cared together. It seems the Lord always gives us the right “friends” at the right time. I am thankful we have not been “unfriended.”
You need more than a Facebook friend you need a Face-look friend. Someone you can see, touch, and hug. Cicero wrote, “Friendship improves happiness and abates misery, by the doubling of our joy and the dividing of our grief.” A friend is “there” to add to gladness, and to lessen grief. A friend is like a flower in the garden of life. A friend remains when others leave. Friends are confidants, pals, counselors, and burden-sharers. Friendship is being attached to one another by mutual affection and love. Have you been “unfriended?” A person without friends has a sad lonely journey in life. Jesus called His disciples “friends” (John 15:15), He spoke of them with a unique relationship involving mutual commitment. We can sing, “What a Friend we have in Jesus.” Thank God there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother (Prov. 18:24). I am grateful that He hath said, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Heb. 15:5). This means He will never – never “unfriend” me – never! He has “friended” me. – Amen!
Timely Thought: “I had a broken heart to mend, God mended it by sending me a friend. – JoAnn Whitaker
