Friendships take time

Oh my goodness, it has been ages since I have blogged! That is what nursing school will do to you! I have barely any time left in my busy schedule except to check my facebook and email, although there have been many times when I've thought about blogging but just haven't gotten around to it. Life is busy busy. But good. And this brings me to the point of this blog.
Over my 27 years of life, I have had so many friends. And one thing I have learned is that friendships take time and cultivation. Even the best of friendships need a little TLC. There have been friends that I have not seen in many years and only talked to a couple of times a year, yet when we get together, it feels like we just pick up where we left off. But if you don't talk or communicate to the person at all, that friendship can deteriorate.
I have found it to be especially difficult for my friendships this past semester after starting nursing school. I barely have time left for my husband and family at this point, and sometimes my friends get left on the back burner. I warned all my good friends what was going to happen before I started nursing, but I have had to really make the time to keep in touch with them. If that means a short text or email, or even something as simple as a comment on their facebook wall.
While I was pondering on this, a quote that I had heard a long time ago came to mind. "If you want a friend, Be a friend."
It is so true. It isn't fun being friends with someone who only wants to be around you or hang out with you when it's convenient for them. It isn't fun being friends with someone who puts no effort into the friendship. I'm sure we all have had friends like that. Friendships and relationships in general take effort on both sides.
I know that I've been a friend like that in the past to people, but I surely don't want to continue in that path.
I really want to make an effort in my friendships. An effort to maintain them and an effort to make sure my friends know how important they are to me, no matter the distance or how busy my life gets. I'm so thankful for my friends. They are a gift from God!

Pr 18:24 ( the Message) "Friends come and friends go, but a true friend sticks by you like family."
I want to be a true friend. The kind that sticks with my friend through thick and thin, through good times and bad, through busy schedules and restful times. A friend like that is a precious, precious find. Hold on to with all you have. We need good friends in our lives!