Recap of 5 Regrets and then #4

I'm going to give you a short recap of something that I think will help you to live better and that's the Top 5 Regrets of the Dying by Bronnie Wade.  I know it sounds a little morbid, but people who are dying have no agenda and so they just tell it like it REALLY is supposed to be.

1. I wish I would have had the courage to pursue my dreams.
2. I wish I didn't work so much.
3. I wish I would have had the courage to express my feelings.


It's amazing that God will deal with everyone of these things in our lives as we allow Him to speak to us. Let's go to #4.


4.  I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends. 


"Often they would not truly realise the full benefits of old friends until their dying weeks and it was not always possible to track them down. Many had become so caught up in their own lives that they had let golden friendships slip by over the years. There were many deep regrets about not giving friendships the time and effort that they deserved.  Everyone misses their friends when they are dying.  It is common for anyone in a busy lifestyle to let friendships slip.  But when you are faced with your approaching death, the physical details of life fall away. People do want to get their financial affairs in order if possible. But it is not money or status that holds the true importance for them. They want to get things in order more for the benefit of those they love. Usually though, they are too ill and weary to ever manage this task. It is all comes down to love and relationships in the end. That is all that remains in the final weeks, love and relationships."

The seeds of good deeds become a tree of life, a wise person wins friends. Pro. 11:30

I have been blessed to always have good friends in my life, and the quality of my friendships has increased over time.  I think it's because I was raised in church and the scripture places such emphasis on friendships.  David and Jonathan, Paul and Silas, Job and his friends,  and the list goes on and on.  So while I thought I was learning about God and how to live right, in reality I was being taught how to be a friend and how to keep a friend.  It's been said that the only people we ever win to Jesus will be our friends because no one wins a enemy to Christ.  That's our mandate for friendships.  C.S. Lewis said "Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art... It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things that give value to survival."

Friendship gives value to our lives, and I'm richest when I'm enjoying my friends.  Tomorrow, I'll get to have lunch with a new friend from Birmingham and my life will get richer.  Don't give up friendships for careers or allow technology to isolate you.  Social networks are useful but don't they don't take the place of face to face friendships.  Here are a few truths I've learned:

• To have friends you have to be a friend.  Focus on what friends do and do that.
• Nice people have more friends so BE NICE, to everyone, all the time.
• Not everyone will agree with my opinions even my friends. Get over it.
• As will all relationships, grace and forgiveness keep them going. Do unto others...