1. QUICK TO FORGIVE: One of the saddest things I’ve seen when talking with women in their 40s (and up) is a embittered, distrusting spirit that holds grudges. People will inevitably disappoint us because they are not God. While yes, we should have boundaries and self-respect, it’s important to try and work through disagreements and forgive one another.
Colossians 3:13 “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”
2. STRONG VALUES/CHARACTER: It’s important to align our values with the people around us. Now, this isn’t to say we need to be surrounded by echo chambers and “yes men”… this is about equally yoked relationships. Dishonesty, greed, and a lack of integrity are traits that can drastically change the course of your life.
1 Corinthians 15:33 says, “Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.’”
3. RELIABILITY: This can be an area that I struggle in- especially if expectations are misaligned. I am a self-proclaimed “low maintenance friend”. However, we have to be careful that we’re not using that as an excuse to avoid our responsibilities as friends.
Proverbs 18:24 says, “One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”
4. WISDOM: Wise counsel is one of the most underrated treasures. Truly. I’m not referring to wordly wisdom (which honestly changes day by day), but friends who listen and receive wisdom from God.
Proverbs 24:5 says, “The wise prevail through great power, and those who have knowledge muster their strength.”
5. PATIENCE: AKA long-suffering.. and to do life with anyone means you are holding onto a loved one through thick and thin. That’s through grief, new boos, breakups, depression, arrogance, lost sense and found sense. We have to take on patience if we truly intend to “do life” with the people God’s ordained for us.
Proverbs 22: 24-25 Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered, 25 or you may learn their ways and get yourself ensnared.
