Elevator Buttons

Proverbs 27:17, “Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.” (KJV)

One Sunday at church a friend of mine had placed her bible and purse on the chair in the first row and the other chairs were empty. I was glad because I wanted to sit by her and the seats were open. So I set my belongings there and I sat down. She came into the room and she said that she saved the spots for her friends, and that they ‘always’ sit by her. She said that somebody should have told me, but nobody told me.

She got mad and she just sat down and kept nagging me. Another girl came in the room and my friend said to her, with an unkind tone of voice, “I guess you will have to sit by Monica.” That made me feel unwanted and that she wasn’t really my friend. One of the friends sat down next to me, she was very kind to me. She made me feel welcomed and like I was one of her friends.

When I got home from church I contacted good friend Miss Jocelyn, and I asked for her opinion. She said, “It’s your friends turn to act nice and loving. Perhaps you might pray for her.” I really appreciate Jocelyn being there for me and for giving me these encouraging words. Another friend that gives me encouraging words is my close friend Courtney. She makes me feel so safe when I am around her. Courtney keeps me in the will of God by keeping me out of trouble. Whenever I face temptation she gently reminds me about my decisions to follow God. Courtney is an excellent friend!!

I prayed once I got home and I asked God to help me in this situation. He told me that I need to pray for her to act more Christ like and to be kinder to others. After that prayer I thought about what kind of friend is she, and if she is going to boost me up or take me down. My pastor says that friends are like elevator buttons, some take you up and some take you down. I need to be careful and to know what button I push. I know God wants me to forgive her but, He also shows me that I need to be wiser in selecting my friends.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Please help me to make a wise decision in choosing my friends, help me to see if my friends take me up or if they bring me down. Help me to pray about it and ask for your guidance and help me to have a forgiving heart: in Jesus’ name Amen.

Thoughts to ponder:

Am I a good friend to others?

Do I allow Jesus to push the elevator buttons in my life?

Have I ever made somebody else feel unwanted?

Who is wiser than me that I can go to for advice?

Decisions to make:

I will allow others to feel welcome and not left out.

Be a friend to have a friend.

I will treat others like I would want to be treated.

Meditate Upon:

Ephesians 4:32, “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”(KJV)

Proverbs 18:2, “A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.”(KJV)

Matthew7:12, “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.” (KJV)