My mum hates my BFF and I can’t understand why. When she came over to my house one day, my mum thought that she was really rude and that she was not a good influence on me. We come from very different family backgrounds, but we get along so well. This was the girl who spurred me on for Christ. What should I do? – Caught In The Middle
dear Caught In The Middle,
We’re sorry to hear that your mum didn’t take well to your BFF. Sometimes, first impressions make us jump to conclusions about people, but that doesn’t mean that those impressions will remain as they are. Give it some time! We’re glad that you have a friend who has been so influential in your life, and it must be difficult to feel torn between her and your mum. We encourage you to share with your mum about how your friend has helped you along in your journey with God, as well as other times that she has been a good influence on you. We’re sure that your mum means well and might have just gotten the wrong idea. As difficult as it may be, honour your mum by not reacting badly to her negative comments, but seek to explain your point of view in love and gentleness. With time, we hope that your mum may come round. Friendship is a gift from God, so we pray that this godly friendship will spur you both on to love and serve God, growing in His ways.
dear Pained,
We are so sorry to hear about the passing of someone so dear to your close friend. It must be such a hard time! Having personally walked through a similar period with a good friend, I know how helpless you feel. However, we are certain your presence during this tough time has already spoken volumes without any words. Don’t belittle these actions of yours losing someone we love is very painful and therefore, death is usually seen as an unpleasant thing. However, knowing that in Jesus there is life eternal, we need not fear! Christ has won the victory over death. We can be rest assured that we will meet these Christian brothers and sisters once again in heaven. Knowing that God is in control in our heads is often a much easier process than knowing it in our hearts. Give your friend time to grieve. It is a necessary step before one can move on. We encourage you to pray for your friend, find ways to cheer her up and simply be there for her. You are doing great!
