#jesusinthemiddle

 For it is only in true Christian friendship that two people who are different in every way possible—race, background, language, personality, socioeconomic level—can love like this.

Others shall know us by our love for one another. And they shall know him too. It follows, then, that friendship is worth the effort. It’s worth it to leave your wounded isolation and try again. It’s worth it to forgive a sister. It’s worth it to give your time and energy to your friendships. It’s worth it to push through the awkward. It’s worth it to love and serve and seek to understand. 

We’re not at the supper table yet, and it’s going to be a long journey to get there. By enduring with one another and bearing with one another, by being willing to walk through the gore of life and hold our friends’ fragile stories close to ourselves while simultaneously offering them hope, by receiving wounding kisses from a faithful friend, we are linking arms and journeying toward that table together.