Welcome my friend! Today as we sip our cuppa’s & enjoy our treats we will be looking at what constitutes the perfect fit of certain people in our lives.

But before we begin grab yourself a cuppa, a delicious tidbit & get comfy.

I’m having a cup of Caramel Coffee with some dried fruit & nuts today. What’s yours?

Goldilocks & the Three Mugs…

Recently my favourite crockery mug cracked. Why was it my favourite?

Well it met my needs in a mug, it held just the right amount for a satisfying cuppa, it wasn’t too heavy or too light, it had a wider rim which I like, it was also colourful, fun & inviting.

And it could go in the microwave to heat my cuppa if I was too slow in consuming it.

And most importantly it had sentimental value as it had been a gift from one of my daughters. Actually it had been the last one of a set of six she gifted to me 24 years ago…

Yes, it was a disappointing day when my husband, who does the washing of dishes in this house (I am blessed) told me it had a big hairline crack in it!

So it now has a new purpose as a Craft utensil holder & the hunt for the perfect mug is on!

Just like Goldilocks I am trying out the mugs in my home to see if they’re a perfect fit, to gain the honour of being my favourite mug. Lol!

I do have one that my daughters collectively gave me for Mother’s Day last year that says ‘Mum’ on it in Gold lettering which is my favourite mug in our picnic hamper, it’s the perfect fit for the days hubby & I enjoy a cuppa by the sea.

But for my home mug the ones I’ve tried so far haven’t quite made the grade, as some are just too heavy, some are too small, some are an awkward shape to drink out of & others are far too narrow at the rim.

While others have gold on them which can’t go in the microwave!

Presently, I have borrowed a crockery mug gifted to hubby that he wasn’t using, while it holds the right amount it’s a bit heavy & chunky for me.

So the hunt continues…

It’s a lot like friendships, isn’t it?

Have you noticed that some friendships are just the perfect fit?

On first meeting there seems to be a special connection. There’s an instant understanding of each other in thought, word & deed.

There’s also an easiness between you that is not demanding but rather  mutually inviting & giving of one to the other.

A mutual understanding & giving that only grows deeper & more precious as the years pass by.

It’s the sort of friendship that if you don’t see each other for months or even years, because of life’s circumstances, when you do meet again you just pick up where you left off.

Did you know friendships meet a need for each participant within the relationship?

It may be different for each person but none the less needs are being met by that relationship.

It may be the need of a like minded companion or one who has had a similar experience for understanding, or the need for a confidant, maybe it’s filling a need for someone to encourage you along life’s rocky roads, or it may meet a need to share a hobby or interests together ie. Travel or Sport.

Changes in Friendships were recently raised in our Ladies Book Club as we were finishing off Alice Fryling’s book; ‘Aging Faithfully, The Holy invitation of Growing Older‘. *

Each member of our Book Club found Alice’s content helpful, thought provoking & yes a little confronting at times as we slowly went through it together.

Do friendships change as we Age?

The short answer is, yes.

Why?

Well, just like my favourite mug became more fragile as it aged & ended up having a hairline crack develop.

As we age, our bodies wear out becoming more fragile, this becomes evident when fine cracks appear in our capabilities.

We find that we can not keep up or be as involved with our friends as we once were especially if chronic health issues come along. Although we do our very best to keep the friendship fires burning.

However, we take courage that those who love the Lord Jesus are being renewed spiritually day to day. As the following scripture highlights;

“Therefore we do not become discouraged [spiritless, disappointed, or afraid].

Though our outer self is [progressively] wasting away, yet our inner self is being [progressively] renewed day by day.”

2 Cor 4:16 AMP

So what to do when fine cracks appear in a Friendship?

This can be a little trickier then dealing with a crack in a mug…

First let’s go back to the beginning of why the friendship began in the first place, there was a mutual understanding & not a demanding from each other.

The don’ts in the Art of Friendship…

If your needs are no longer being met by your friend, please don’t place demands upon them to meet your needs, when they simply can not do it.

As this places an unnecessary burden upon them when they’re already doing their best in ‘all things through Christ who strengthens them…’ (a paraphrase of Phil 4:13).

And if you don’t understand the actual reason for the crack that has appeared in their capabilities, please do not assume you know.  Or call their level of faith into question because your needs are no longer being met, that’s simply not fair.

The dos in the Art of Friendship…

Do show love & grace towards your friend as they do to you, as your friend is obviously dealing with a great deal if they can’t do what they once did.

And remember they may be dealing with circumstances that you have no idea about. As friends don’t always share everything going on in their life with others, not even with their closest of friends or family.

And please look to God for your needs, for He is the One who ultimately provides…

Remembering;

“And my God will liberally supply (fill until full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

Phil 4:19 AMP

Until next time,

Jennifer

You’re also most welcome to join me in The Reading Nook

Or in Prayer

* Disclaimer: I gain no remuneration from mentioning Alice’s book here.

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© 2023 Jennifer M. Ross, teawithjennifer.blog All Rights Reserved. Photo by Joaquim Mendes on Pexels.com 

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