Proverbs 17:17-18

"A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend."
Proverbs 17:17-18


I thought that this was a cool scripture, and goes along with something that we have been talking about lately (or that *I* have been talking about at least) ... about how we need to help each other in this life.  I think that this scripture is awesome in portraying how we can offer confidence and solidity to people.  Treating people like they are cool... (which they ARE, by the way...) helps them to relax and be genuine.  Even when our friends are going through tough things, or when they make mistakes... we love them for who they are, and who they are capable of becoming.  And we do all that we can to help them see that vision and reach for it, and they do the same for us.  I think that a lot of times we choose either independence or dependence... both of which are things that we need to learn.  we need to learn who we are and how much power we have within ourselves, and learn to trust ourselves to figure things out and to live by what we believe.  we need to learn how utterly dependent we are upon God.  But we also need to learn interdependence.  that we are all dependent upon each other for so many things... and that other people are dependent upon us.  That it is a system that we are a part of... that we are never completely alone or out of the system.  Everything that we do and say and think makes a difference to the whole.  Loving each other and lifting each other matters... and it matters a lot more than how much money we are making, or whether we get to that appointment on time today.  other people are part of that system, and therefore... part of who we are.  We affect each other immeasurably.