“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” (Proverbs 27:17)
Recently my friend posted a story to Facebook about a black cat, which made me think of my childhood family pet, a little black cat called Blackie. Blackie was a naughty girl who liked to trick us. I could be mad at her when I was not in a good mood. Nonetheless, she was my good companion who grew up with me and enriched my life. She would climb on my lap and watch television with me. She would also squat next to me on the balcony, and we would watch people on the street together.
The triune God has created us in His image, enabling us to relate to Him as well as to other people. He has nurtured our souls and developed our character through our companions. Like Proverbs says, mutual influence among friends can strengthen our lives, allowing us to share our thoughts and feelings as we make this spiritual journey. We can support and encourage each other, as well as grow together along the way. Even though we have differences and may not agree with one another at times, it is still good to learn from our companions and look beyond our blind spots.
As we grow up, we easily fill up our lives with busy schedules. It’s a luxury that we can share a little bit about our life stories through social media. Let’s stop and think: do you have any spiritual friends who walk with you in your spiritual journey? Are you willing to open your heart and soul before them?
Reflection Questions:
- Think of the companions and spiritual friends who grew up with you, and thank God for their influences in your life.
- Ask God to show you who He has put in your life to be your spiritual friends today.
- Make time to meet with your spiritual friends every month or every week.
Written by Lily Ma. Artwork by Carol Li