26 Simple Ways to Love on a Friend. Last week’s post focused on what the Bible says about friendship. However, let’s not read it and stop there. The reason we have the Scripture and look to the Scripture is for the purpose of informing our daily lives.
So this week, let’s consider some practical application from last week’s look into what Scripture has to say about friendship:
26 Simple Ways to Love on a Friend
A – Ask – “What can I do to help you today?” or “How are you – really?” Then do nothing but listen and respond to what you hear for as long as they would like to talk.
B – Blow them away by remember something they said that they thought you did not hear.
C – Cook dinner.
D – Demonstrate your love. Go beyond mere lip service. Ask them if you can take care of their responsibilities. For example, you could offer to pick your friend’s children up from school or run some errands.
E – Encourage your friend to pursue her dreams.
F – Forge the friendship by looking out for those they love.
G – Give your friend something of yours that reminds you of them, an item you spy on sale at the store that reminds you of them, or a book you have already read (inscribed with a meaningful message).
H – Hug. Research shows that hugging is extremely effective at healing sickness, disease, loneliness, depression, anxiety and stress. Help your friend!
I – Invite your friend to join you for dinner, a game, or a movie; or invite them out with friends of yours they do not know. Nothing says “I value you” like inclusion.
J – Jazz things up. Introduce them to something new that you think would enrich their lives.
K – Keep the confidences of your friend.
L – Laugh with them. Send your friend a funny video or Facebook share and add the message, “You make me laugh more than this video or cartoon. Thank you!”
M – Mail your friend a piece of “real” mail from time to time. Nothing says, “I care about you and want you to know,” like hand-written “real” mail!
N – Notice when they do something that might have been challenging and applaud their efforts.
O – Offer them your skills for free.
P – Perceive how they affect other people – not you – and comment on it.
Q – Qualities. Tell them which qualities of theirs you admire.
R – Remember – birthdays, doctor’s appointments, job interviews, anything your friend has made you aware of. Put it on your calendar. Set an alarm. Then follow up with a phone call or text.
S – Sacrifice. Make a simple sacrifice in order to spend time with them.
T – Thwart the tendency to focus on yourself. Let your friend decide what the two of you will do and find a way to really enjoy it. See the experience through their eyes.
U – Utter “Thank yous.” Squeeze their hand and say, “Thank you.” Thank them for the little things, the obvious things, and for the things they do not even realize they gave you, like inspiration to seize the day or the courage to leave an unhealthy relationship.
V – Verify their worth. Tell them they were so right about something and let them know how that information impacted your life.
W – Wipe their tears, hold their hand, and share their pain when they have it. Be their shoulder to lean on.
X – EXpress the value of your friendship in the little things. When you are waiting in line at the grocery store, text your friend to let them know you are thinking of them or to just check in and see how they are doing. While sitting in the carpool pick-up line, jot a quick note to a friend who is going through a rough patch and mail it to them. When folding the laundry or dusting, call your friend to check up on them.
Y – Yield. Let your friend be right once in a while on things that aren’t a huge deal (even if you think they are not right).
Z – Zany. Share some unadultlike experiences together — play on the swings, get some ice cream, and let go of your stresses.
