“The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.” (Proverbs 12:26 NIV)
Recently I read a book by Kara Tippet in which she describes her criteria for picking friends. This inspired me to create a list of my own. Mind you, this is not how I have picked friends in the past--it’s just how I would like to go about it in the future. These are also the qualities I would like to cultivate in myself:
- Authenticity--No faking or pretending. Don’t be phony in order to manipulate others. Just be your real self.
- Transparency--Be open. Be vulnerable. Express what is on your mind.
- Simplicity--Don’t be pretentious or ostentatious.
- Care--Take care of yourself, but also care about people and things beyond yourself.
- Seeking--Desire something more than what this world has to offer.
I am fortunate to have several friends who fit all these criteria. I have learned the value of these qualities from being around them. When choosing new friends, I am careful. I no longer pick people based on how fun they are, or if they have similar interests, or if they make me feel good when I am around them. Instead, I select friends that make me a better person.
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ReplyDeleteIf there was a "Love" space to click I would have clicked on it. May these guidelines be written out by you so you can see them clearly each and every day to remind you that you are on a quest to change your mindset.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the feedback, Laura.
ReplyDelete