Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of a friend springs from their heartfelt advice. Psalm 27:9
“I awoke this morning with devout thanksgiving for my friends, the old and the new. Shall I not call God the Beautiful, who daily showeth Himself so to me in His gifts? I chide society, I embrace solitude, and yet I am not so ungrateful as not to see the wise, the lovely, and the noble-minded, as from time to time they pass my gate. Who hears me, who understands me, becomes mine, — a possession for all time.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson in his essay “Friendship” as recounted by Arthur C. Brooks in From Strength to Strength (New York: Penguin, 2022) 143. I shot the header photo from the ruins of Castillo San Cristóbal in San Juan, Puerto Rico, two days ago.
My word for the year is gratitude, so this section on the importance of relationships and gratitude for friendships really resonated with me. I am thankful for my friends, the closest of which, is my wife, Jenni.
My work is largely prophetic. In plain terms, I call God’s people (starting with myself and I am thoroughly imperfect) to align their ways with God’s ways. Jesus says this brings honor abroad and not much honor on the home front.
That makes my friends priceless. So, I pause to give thanks for the wise, the lovely, and noble-minded who pass by my proverbial gate and stop to hear and understand me. The older I get the more I realize they are a possession for all time.
I lost a close friend last year. Maybe you did too? You don’t realize how special they are until they are gone. So, in the spirit of gratitude, message a friend today and tell them how much you appreciate the joy they bring to your life.