by Kristen White
Are you a bully? Gossip? True friend? Being a good friend doesn’t just happen. In the best friendships, pals work on their bond and their character. How do you stack up as a friend?
1. Your friend loans you $5 when you go to the moives. You:
a. Thank him for it but forget to pay him back.
b. Say, “Hey, didn’t you owe me this anyway?”
c. Pay him back as soon as possible.
2. Your parents drive you to get ice cream with a group of friends after church. You:
a. Order the biggest sundae on the menu.
b. Laugh and joke about people in your youth group, church, or school.
c. Laugh with your friends about jokes that don’t tear people down, and thank your parents for taking you.
3. You go your report card today. You:
a. Congratulate your friends who did well. You know that God has good plans for your life.
b. Brag to everyone about your As.
c. Criticize people who go As—call them nerds and losers.
4. Your friend confides in you about her depressed feelings. You:
a. Tell her to not be so gloomy and to get over what is making her down.
b. Listen without criticizing, then pray with her about the problem.
c. Snicker and tell her secret to everyone you can—text it, post it online, and whisper about it.
5. Your friends are starting to make choices you don’t agree with, but they are the popular kids. You:
a. Spread rumors about them and never speak to them again.
b. Continue being kind to your old friends but start praying and looking for new friends that share your values.
c. Go along with what they do, because being popular is supreme.
Here are the best answers:
1. c; 2. c; 3. a; 4. b; 5. b.
It is hard to know how to do the right things. Even adults have a hard time knowing how to be a good friend. But wiht God’s help and a little thought, you can learn to build people up. And that will make you a terrific friend!
Great Friends Are Great People
Here’s an acronym to help you remember qualities of being a good friend: I HELP.
Integrity—Do what you say you will do, when you say you will do it. Do not keep records of whether people are returning nfavors. If you do not want to do something, you don’t have to. Be honest.
Hilarity—Laughter is an important ingredient in friendship. But do not laugh about people; that hurts!
Equality—Do not look down on people who aren’t as smart, well dressed, athletic, or spiritual as you think you are. Pride is not attractive. Let God be the judge. Have many kinds of people as your friends.
Loyalty—Never say anything that you would not want said about you—including to a person, behind her back, and online. Treat people well.
Priority—What is the most important thin to you—God, money, popularity? Your priorities show in your choice of friends and activities. Think about what really lasts and let Jesus guide your decisions.
