Today’s lesson is about platonic relationships and how valuable they can be.

Many know me as very outgoing, willing to strike up a conversation with anyone and everyone. What most don’t know is I have always had a hard time making deep connections with male friends. I have great male acquaintances, but only one male friend who I am 100% myself and open on everything with. He has been in my life longer than most people and always there.

This doesn’t mean I lie, I just am not fully exposing all feelings. I have naturally had deeper (and platonic) relationships with women. (And yes, men, before I was married, this put me in the “Friend Zone”). I get along better with them and feel they understand me more. This was hard when I was younger as I was told: boys play with boys, girls play with girls. You need to have strong male friends, etc etc. I was even told that if you only have girl friends then you are gay. Nope, wrong there.

I found an interesting article that details, in a Christian manner, the pros and cons of male-female friendships. https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/can-christian-men-and-women-be-friends

I have been married for over 15 years and never cheated. I don’t believe in it. At the same time, I have healthy relationships with women and they help me understand my thoughts better and help me be a better husband.

“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone?” – Proverbs 17:17

“Faithful friends are a sturdy shelter: whoever finds one has found a treasure. Faithful friends are beyond price; no amount can balance their worth. Faithful friends are life-saving medicine; and those who fear the Lord will find them.” – Ecclesiastes 4:12

“A righteous man is cautious in friendship, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.” – Romans 12:10

The Proverbs scripture shows the strength of friendships. It shows how we can help each other. And no, the second part is not sexual. It is how we keep warm physically but more importantly spiritually and mentally. I cherish my friends. All of them from all walks of life. They are my treasure. They support me and help me and keep me. There is caution though in all friendships, not just male-female. Let’s be cautious and not be wicked. As the article above states, there are dangers in relationships. For me, I have learned that platonic love is a powerful thing. It is something given by God to help us all be stronger. It supplements and enhances our family relationships including that of our spouses or partners. It is amazing.

I want to humbly thank all of the women in my life who have been strong friends to me and allowed me not only to be myself but grow in my faith.

How do you value your friendships? Do you have opposite sex, platonic friends?

I know I do and wouldn’t want to live life without them.

#36of365 #FaithBites #FaithJourney