The Value of Friendship

With our friend Kathi

In our American culture, being a "self-made" person has become something of great value. This phrase captures the ideal that individuals have within themselves the ability to accomplish something greater than they were born into. An example is a person born into a life of poverty and through much work and perseverance they rise to a place of prosperity and success. It's an ideal and opportunity that many people admire from across the waters in other nations. If not correctly balanced, there is a flaw that this ideal introduces. It can place a greater value on the individual and a lesser value on the help that others bring into our lives. We are not created to be lone rangers. We are created to need one another. King Solomon (a King in the nation of Israel's ancient history) is recorded as writing,

"Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up".

That sure brings another view to the ideal of a "self made" person.

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Our friends the Whitehouses

Another interesting fact is that the field of neuroscience is finding through studies that "people" is the missing link to success. In other words success and relationships are linked together in our lives. Dr. John Townsend in his book, People Fuel, brings this fact to light. He also states, "People are the fuel for us to grow."
Have you ever heard (or said yourself), "This job would be wonderful except for the people!" I have heard this and laughed!! Yes, there are challenges to relationships! And at the same time, we need relationships! We NEED People! Again, Dr. John Townsend speaks of "Relational Nutrients". He identifies 22 nutrients that we get from positive relationships in our lives. These nutrients create a healthy person just like our nutritional nutrients create a healthy body and mind.

So....what is the take-a-way from all of this?? We NEED each other...people!

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Cindy and Sarah

So the next time you make room in your schedule to stop and talk with your friend or take a break from the "works" of life to invest in a relationship...remember, you are investing into your health and success. We can't do life alone. We have been created to do life with people. We need each other in the good, the bad, and the beautiful side of all that life brings!

INVEST! Invest in your health. Invest in your success. Invest in another's health. Invest in another's success!

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