'THERE IS A FRIEND WHO STICK CLOSER THAN A BROTHER.' PROVERBS 18:24 NIV

Building great relationship take time and energy. and you only discover how valuable such relationships are when they're tested. one author writes: 'Contouring your heart to beat with another requires extensive whittling to trim away self-centeredness. It's like riding a bus; if you're going to the company you must be willing to scoot over to accommodate other people and the baggage they bring. your actions in doing this express the importance of the other person. one relationship becomes more valuable than others because its ability to survive and endure realignments.'

The qualities we value most in a friend are two-fold: (1) the assurance that they won’t bail out when the road gets rocky. (2) The knowledge that our imperfections and companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother. 'It's about quality not quantity. That's why heart connections can be so much stronger than blood connections. Don't be too quick to discount someone's good qualities because they made a mistake, disappointed you or did something without thinking. You wouldn't haul your car to the junkyard because it had a faulty battery or a flat tire! Love means risk, but the payoffs out-weight the investment. Behind very success story you'll find people who once felt so discouraged they wanted to quit, who fell and needed lifting when someone stepped ruin, picked them up and help them to keep going. Life is not built on acquisitions and accomplishments, it’s built on relationships. So keep your in good shape!

Evangelist Philip Jegede’s Reading Courtesy of DWFT: Acts 22-23, Luke 9:57 -62. www.mpbs247.org