I don’t know about you, but I love a good quote.  A thoughtful quote can cut through to the heart and give us a new perspective. Sometimes that’s all we need to get us heading in the right direction.

Having teenage kids has a way of reminding you how important it is to surround yourself with quality friends.  I live by this principle, “you are who you spend time with.”  Do your friends inspire you and challenge you to become better or do they pull you down and are a negative influence in your life?  

I have assembled the following quotes because they made me think a little deeper about friendship and how we all hold potential to impact and be impacted by those close to us.  I hope you will benefit from the following quotes as I was.  I would love to hear from you, so please share your favorite friendship quote in the comments.

When you find that friend that understands you like no one else can, that’s priceless. This is a great quote by C.S. Lewis that says it all:

True friends encourage each other through the hard times and celebrate the good times. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 comes to mind, “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”  If words don’t come easy, it can feel like you may not know what to say to encourage a friend going through a tough time, but sometimes the simplest message like, “I’m here for you,” can make a profound difference.

The following quote is a great reminder. How often do we tell those close to us how much they mean to us? The following words are simple but they get the message across in an unforgettable way.

Sometimes friendship can mean going out of your way for others—and sometimes you may not even know them very well at all. Just like Jesus’ parable of the Samaritan (Luke 10:25), we are all called to be a friend.  Being available as a friend requires us to step outside of ourselves and take a look at who is around us.  You never know who God has placed in your path or why.

This next quote is a good reminder that making a true friend requires us to be who we really are. You may have a lot of great friends or you may only have a few close friends, but one thing is true for all of us—being authentic and open to new friendships is a great goal in the coming year.

If you like these quotes, you can find more and create your own at https://app.eleven52.com/.

Your Virtual Life Mentor,

Doug