Relationships

Quotes about friends.

A friend is one who overlooks your broken fence and admires the flowers in your garden. (Unknown)

Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart. (Eleanor Roosevelt)

Relationships are important to us because we are called to love/respect each other as individuals and society.

Scripture Text:

1 Peter 4:8 (NLT)

8 Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins. 

As humans, the relationships we form with other people are vital to our mental and emotional well being, and really, our survival. Just take a look at the folks in the New Testament for example. Jesus made the Apostle John responsible for the care for his mother Mary.

Relationships such as Marriage, friendships, familial relationships, co-worker, Pastor, Sunday School Teacher, Mentors and sometimes a total stranger should be kind and loving to each other.

Humans have an inherent desire to be close to other people even if in our past something was broken. Even then we want to connect and build relationships even if it’s hard for us. While a man stranded on an island, talking to a volleyball like in the move isn’t necessarily “healthy,” his compulsion for company is. That’s because the fact of the matter is this: healthy relationships (romantic relationships, friendships, familial relationships -- they all count!) can help make for a healthier overall life for us.

But what exactly does a healthy relationship look like?

A positive relationship can be shared between any two people who love, support, encourage, respect and help each other practically as well as emotionally. In no particular order, people in healthy relationships tend to:

• Listen to each other

• Communicate openly and without judgment

• Trust and respect each other

• Consistently make time for each other

• Remember details about each other’s lives

• Engage in healthy activities together

In a romantic or just a good ole friendship the results are about the same to a great extent. Let’s look at some of the benefits of this solid friendship that can benefit us so much.

Less Stress

Being in a relationship is linked to less production of cortisol, a stress hormone. So if you are looking for less stress make a great friend!

Better Healing

Whether it’s having someone there to remind you to take your medicine, or that things aren’t as bad as you think, or just say to you “this too will pass by the grace of God”.

Healthier Behaviors

Healthy relationships set the perfect tone for an overall healthy lifestyle. If your spouse, friends or other loved ones encourage eating a healthy diet, exercising, not smoking, etc., you’re likely to follow in their footsteps. It’s a lot easier to take on healthy behaviors when you surround yourself with people who are doing the same.

Greater Sense of Purpose

It’s natural for humans to want to feel needed, and like they’re part of something bigger. Many people strive to feel like they’re doing something good for someone else, and improving the world in some way. This can give a person a sense of well being and purpose. Some believe having a sense of purpose can add years to your life.

Longer Life

Speaking of adding years to your life, research suggests that having healthy social relationships (like attending regular Worship Service in a Church) makes a bigger impact on avoiding early death than taking blood pressure medication’s or being exposed to air pollution. One study even suggests that a lack of social relationships has the same effect on health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.

Everyone is unique and has their own needs and desires when it comes to relationships, handling stress, living a healthy life, and having a meaningful life. If you’re the type of person who enjoys being alone, that’s okay, but attempting to make a couple close relationships could mean noticeable benefits to your mental and physical health.

Sometimes having at least one good friend (or trusted co-worker, therapist or counselor, Pastor or teacher) to help walk you through issues like social anxiety or depression can end up being more than worth it. It might be difficult, but it also might be exactly what you need. Even just having one or two strong, healthy relationships in your life can have a positive effect on health. All we have to do is look at Jesus, Paul, Peter and Phoebe or Ruth.

Remember:

Ephesians 4:2-3 (NLT)

"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace."

2 Corinthians 6:14-16a (NLT)

14 Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? 15 What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever? 16 And what union can there be between God’s temple and idols? For we are the temple of the living God.