06/09/2024
GOOD BONES are Tried and True!
20+ years in it... I watched a family's house burning.
It was completely engulfed by flames. So much that firemen couldn't get close enough to extinguish it... and it was safer not to.
I thought, "Wow! All the years & the memories; time & equity invested. Thoughts of future plans... All gone. How sad!"
What took 20+ years to finally get to a comfortable place & be content with... GONE! Within hours.
Come to find out, the fire was caused by an issue that haf caused a small fire years ealier. An issue they chose to "rig" rather than fix.
I mourned for them... it broke my heart.
Returning to the scene a few days later I thought, "Surely there will be nothing left!". To my surprise I could still see clearly that a house stood in where there was a terrible fire just days before.
This house had "Good bones".
Good bones” refers to the core foundational elements of the home –– a steady structure that can withstand time, wear, elements and even a fire.
Should they choose to, the family can rebuild. They can learn from the losing what burned up, what to do, what not to do, better maintenance, etc. And they can make new memories from the "good bones" left of the house... that have been Tried & shown themselves to be True!
Hmmmm...
The HOUSE of FRIENDSHIP will be tried by fire!
Pay close attention to the small fires though... Something is wrong when folks you consider to be friends would rather "rig" the issues by ignoring them, avoiding conflict, refusing to own responsibility, and or leaving you "under the bus", rather than being honest, communicating and address the problem...
Let that set off your "friendship smoke alarm"!
Even if the freindship is 20+ years in...
A "fire" you will allow you to see whether or not that HOUSE of FRIENDSHIP is Tried and True with "Good Bones" and a good foundation that can withstand problems, learn from from and rebuild...
OR
As painful as it may be, fire will burn down the walls of shallow friendships and leave pile of ashes.
God loves us so much!
Learn to trust what & who he reveals through fire...
And WHEN He does...
Learn from'em!
Love'em!
Forgive'em!
And MOVE ON!
(Job 27:7, Matthew 10:14, Luke 6:27-28)
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