Be a Blessing

"So then, as occasion and opportunity open up to us,
let us do good [morally] to all people [not only being useful or profitable to
them, but also doing what is for their spiritual good and advantage.]
Be mindful to be a blessing, especially to those of the household of faith
[those who belong to God's family with you, the believers.]"
Galatians 6:10

Have you ever grew comfortable with putting distance between you and another person? This part of my devotion made me think about a friendship I had about a year ago. This person was awesome, a true friend. Once meeting him we became really good friends - always up for hanging out with groups of friends (and through him I was able to meet several great people). That all changed one day when I put my feelings in front of really listening to him. Sometimes we get so concerned about how we are doing - we forget to look out for the needs of others. He was just trying to be a nice guy, and I was apparently giving him the idea that I was strong enough (emotionally,spiritually) to take what he had to say. The conversation is still crystal clear in my mind, and because I wasn't strong enough at the time to take on this Christ lead person, I feared that I would give him the wrong idea. Meaning :: "Don't come talk to me about these things, I don't really know what to say." "When you say 'pray for me', are you just feeling sorry for me?" Having fear is no way of dealing with things, it just leaves you high and dry...seriously

"What I feared has come upon me; what I dreaded has happened to me."
Job 3:26

We all have the ability to misinterpret things and see them in a negative way because of our expectations. The things we end up fearing the most are the things that are going to come kick us in the butt. Since that little fiasco I have rekindled a little bit of that friendship. We haven't taken the time to sit down and talk - but if I wouldn't have put myself first in the conversation we had at the beginning of all of this, we would probably still be close friends. God puts us in sticky situations like this all the time, it was sad for me because I ended up distancing myself from a great friend. I understand what I did was wrong, and in the long run I got to find out some interesting things about myself ::
*Think before you speak
*Listen : What they are saying really is important (and if it's not important to you, it obviously is with them because they are finding it in their hearts to talk to you about it)
*Creating distance is so easy - don't let it happen!
*We all have fear - don't let it get the best of you