I’ve been learning a lot the past year. I’ve learned a ton about churches, organizations, leadership, and finances. But I think the greatest learning has nothing to do with any of these…or maybe it’s really what these are all about. My greatest learning has been the most difficult. It’s also been the source of the greatest rewards. Over the next few posts, I’m going to share a some of my best lessons:
1. Friends don’t let friends crash and burn
It’s easy to see something in a friend that will hold them back. It’s easy to talk to someone else about it and wonder what to do. It’s easy to be the friend to help pick up the pieces and rescue them after they’ve messed up. But a friend who loves you will risk hurting you a little bit to save you from running into traffic and getting killed. They will have the tough conversations. They will call you out on things they see you doing that shouldn’t be. They will hold you accountable.
Not everyone you know can do that. Not everyone has the “right” to. When those friends who can, speak into my life honestly because they truly care and love me, I’m willing to be uncomfortable for a little bit. As hard as it is to listen and hear, it’s worth it.
I can’t do this with everyone I know. I don’t have the “right” to. But if I truly care and love them, I need to take the tough step to honestly have the difficult conversations. I need to be willing to put caring for them before my own comfort. That’s not easy.
Next up…handling being on the receiving end of these difficult conversations…
Filed under: Friends, Friendship, Health, Leadership, Love, Ministry
Love this post!! You are so blessed to have those kinds of “sharpening” friends in your life, as am I. Thanks for the challenge to BE that type of friend to those I love.
And thanks stopping by to see my Wordless Wednesday post! They are a good lookin’ group…if I do say so myself!
Rindy,
Your words could not have rang so true if I had wrote them myself. It also goes to when a friend asks you a question that you know the answer to that question may hurt them but truth in love is always the best way to show your friendship.
J
oh man this speaks to me.
no one has the perfect answer either, but we can try.
sometimes they don’t realize the help til far later in life.
that’s the sucky part.
Wow!
Great stuff Rindy!
When I want to say something to someone, I probably shouldn’t it. When I don’t want to, I probably should.
Love it Rindy!
[...] Part 1 [...]
[...] Rindy Walton is a woman I learn a lot from. She’s got amazing experience as a mom and God is taking her through a refining season right now. Her response inspires me. Read what she has to say about life. [...]
[...] Now here’s the thing, to speak truth into someone’s life you have to have credibility with them. This credibility is earned over time and through investments of love. If you love me and I know it, you canspeak authoritative truth into my life. (Rindy has a great post on this topic here) [...]