“Faithful are the wounds of a friend [who corrects out of love and concern], but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful [because they serve his hidden agenda]” Proverbs 27:6, Amplified.
A real friend will tell you when your breath stinks, when you have something in your nose, when your dress is too tight, and when you have lipstick on your teeth. They will caution you when you’re about to marry the wrong guy, when you are headed down the wrong path, and when you need to slow down and enjoy your life. A real friend is a mirror.
Just as some women try to avoid real mirrors, some women avoid deep friendships because they are too afraid of seeing the truth about themselves. But here’s what the devil doesn’t tell us, friendships not only reveal our weaknesses, they also reveal our strengths. Like a mirror, a real friend will tell you, “Girl, you need to lose some weight,” but in the same breath will say, “You have a beautiful smile and look at those eyes!” They will tell you that you are being messy with how you are handling a situation, and in the same breath tell you how much they love you and how awesome you are.
Beware of anyone who only tells you the good things about yourself. Also, beware of anyone who only wants to criticize you and talk about your flaws. That is not a real mirror, and that is not a true friend. Be a mirror that is both truthful and encouraging, and let others be a mirror for you.
Prayer: Father God, thank for your wisdom. Help me to be a mirror in the lives of friends. Help me to be both truthful and encouraging, and Lord help me to allow others to be a mirror for me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
(Read Ephesians 4:15)
