Ten Priceless Qualities I Admire In My Friends

They may not think I’m paying that much attention, but I am paying careful attention to the character my friends display. I hear them, I see them, they allow me to understand how they feel and how they operate. I take that very seriously. Having witnessed them, there were some outstanding qualities that left a lasting impression on me. Here are just ten of them in no particular order.

1. Humble

There’s something about my friends that makes them acutely aware that however brilliant they are, however gifted and talented, that they are nothing without the Giver who gives it to them. Even my non-Christian friends are aware that there’s no wisdom or pleasure in being boastful and arrogant.

2. Perceptive

It is not unusual that I will be sitting with a friend and we will talk on a matter. They will then bring out something on the matter that I never considered before, and they will draw a thread to allow me to see how that was there all the time if I was a bit more observant to see it. It’s a great quality to have especially when practiced to see the beauty in others.

3. Gracious

Messing up is not uncommon with me. Maybe it’s not as bad as it used to be, but it happens. Others might see that as the perfect excuse to distance themselves. The friends I know have only used that to draw us closer and help me to get over the messing up. That along with their generosity, makes them remarkable people.

4. Passionate

My friends are never bored. Never. Obviously that puts me under no pressure whatsoever! There is just a zest and enthusiasm about them that is infectious. It’s not always about being physically expressive with manic looks – though that helps. There’s just something about them that sees life lived to the full involves everything. That’s refreshing and engaging.

5. Wise

It’s probably not unreasonable to say that a number of mistakes I’ve made in life could be avoided if I took the counsel of my friends. They don’t force it on me. They are not that insistent. Yet when I check out what my counsel say especially with what God says, I realise it’s in my best interests to follow their example.

6. Focused

Distractions are all about us. Some very well meaning distractions too, that obviously ‘need’ attention. There are friends of mine, however, who are very good and looking through that and seeing it for the delusion it is. They have a goal in view and there’s nothing stopping them reaching that goal not just for them but for the others who are blessed as a result.

7. Funny

There’s this friend I befriended very recently. He struck me as a serious, strait-laced kinda guy. Of course as I get to know him I see that this guy’s wit is informing my own! Very dry, very sharp, very funny. Which is awesome, because I don’t know if I last long with people who have a failure in the sense of humour department.

8. Friendly

Well duh, you might think, how else can I make a friend unless they are friendly. Yet I am talking about a capacity about them that makes them easy to be around in whatever company. We can be in a restaurant and they’ll make the waiter feel like they’re part of the rapport. This engaging, inclusive, warm aspect of my friends sets a standard I look to reach.

9. Persistent

There has been times when I’ve been accused of giving up. Yet I know I have shrugged those comments off primarily because of how learnt this great quality from those who stand with me. They keep going no matter what and it makes me run out of breath how often they’ll press before they get what they’re looking for. It’s worthwhile.

10. Faithful

My view of faithfulness has broadened since I made some close intimate friends. I used to see it as just being about sticking to a person. Yet what I have seen and benefited is being faithful is someone having faith in you and being full of faith for you – or more accurately in God for me and so they’re always seeing Christopher living with the Christ in him, so they see a better, greater Christopher than I often see and that enables them to not just stick around but encourage the Christ in me to emerge.

(Photo by Hikersbay Hikersbay on Unsplash)

For His Name’s Sake

Shalom

C. L. J. Dryden