Tuesday, July 20 There are companions ready to crush one another, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.​—Prov. 18:24.

[Áine]

Tuesday, July 20

There are companions ready to crush one another, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.—Prov. 18:24.

 

We may find it difficult to open up to others because someone might have hurt us in the past. (Prov. 18:19) Or we may feel that we lack the time and energy to cultivate close relationships. However, we should not give up. If we want our brothers to stand by us when trials come, we must learn to trust them now with our thoughts and feelings. That is an important step toward becoming true friends. (1 Pet. 1:22) Jesus showed that he trusted his friends by communicating openly with them. (John 15:15) We can imitate him by sharing our joys, concerns, and disappointments with others. Listen carefully as someone talks to you, and you may learn that you have many thoughts, feelings, and goals in common. If you take the initiative to have warm and open conversations with others, your friendships with them are likely to grow.—Prov. 27:9. w19.11 4 ¶8-9

[Elnathan]

Lack of trust, energy & time is a common issue when being hurt by a trusted friend in the past, but we will need friends/ brothers when trials come & in the Great Tribulations ahead. Like Cindy who is quoted in the Watchtower said ‘a deep, warm & open conversations with friends will help us know & understand our friends better’. That will also grow our friendships. 

[Vinnie]

To be crushed by your closest companion creates a wound that is very slow to heal. One of the best remedies to heal from being crushed is not to isolate oneself and trust no one, but to push forward and find someone to rebuild trust in.  For this reason, in general,  women heal emotionally faster than men. A lesson men can take to heart.

[Sister Twister]

Having good friends and being a good friend is so valuable at this time , not being quick to judge or over react , not keeping account of injury but being forgiving if necessary at times and hoping our friends will forgive us .

 

having good friendships can make or break us so we should value them above all irritations and issues.

 

Love above all else .

[Áine]

I've always applied the fact that one day in the future we may have to rely on the good relationships we have with our brothers and sisters... its good to form that close friendship now rather than when you're stuck in a cellar or attic with them 🤣