Struggles with Making Friends

A few months ago I had been struggling with friendships and I turned to my sister and and her 3 close friends for friendship advice. Below is advice they gave, I hope it helps you to keep those same close friendships that will last a lifetime.

Here is what Gretchen says;
But, it's true...we are crazy for each other & most of all we're crazy for Jesus! If not for HIM and is grace & mercy & love...we wouldn't have the friendship we have now. He has molded us & guided us over the years...and we continually get better, because of Him! I would say too, that we always work at BEING INTENTIONAL & SACRIFICIAL with each other. We sacrifice our time... make it a priority, even though our crazy busy schedules get the best of us sometimes.(so, make the time...because it's worth it! And it will take time....ALOT of time, but if you don't start, then what? Remember, we've been at it for years!) And we love each other UNCONDITIONALLY...NO MATTER WHAT! We are crazy messed up friends...messed up & loving each other to Heaven!

From my sister;
You have to be willing to be totally honest about yourself and tell all of the crap. You have to be willing to accept imperfection in others and not place unrealistic expectations on them. Sometimes before a big get together we will all talk about what our expectations are for the time we will spend. This is helpful so that no one will get upset if their expectations are not met. Accept the fact that you are NOT perfect and this side of heaven, you NEVER will be and NEITHER will your friends. So this leads me to my final necessity for friendship FORGIVENESS. Be willing to ASK for it and be willing to GIVE it. :):) Just for the record, I think you are the best sister and aunt a girl could ask for. I love you to bits :)

Since moving here to South Carolina four years ago, its been hard for me to make friends I mean good friends. I think its mostly my fault because I've been burnt in the past, girls in high school telling lies about me and its been hard for me to open up and put trust in someone. But I think that's what it takes to make friend for them to see who you really are.

When we first moved to Anderson 4 years ago it took me about a 1 1/2 half to make friends. Some of the close friends I made were through work and through our church: New Prospect Baptist Church. One of my close friends I made at church her name is Laura Rada. We became such close friends and it was so easy because we had so much in common. But last May telling her Ray got a new job and we'd be moving 2 1/2 hours away was very hard. I know that everyday life gets in the way so we don't talk as much as I'd like to but I am so blessed to have Laura in my life to be my friend then and now.

Within in the past year of moving here to Camden SC, I've been able to get connected with girls from church. I signed up for a community group (not wanting to just being scared of not knowing anyone) but Ray pushed me to, to meet people. As joining the group back in the spring and joining again in the summer I've become closer to 3 different girls, Kendra, Alison and Tabitha.

Kendra, Alison and Tabitha are/were USC students. Kendra and Allison both graduated this spring. Kendra had enlisted with the NAVY as nurse and was leaving for San Diego California for 3 years. Alison graduated with a degree in teaching elementary school and had been applying for jobs since her graduation. After weeks going by without hearing anything, she heard back from a school in the Philippines wanting her to teach at their school. She prayed hard to seek God for an answer and hearing from God she took the job. She just left this week to the Philippines and will be over there 10 months and will be back for the summer of 2012.
I've been blessed to meet Kendra, Alison and hope our friendship continues to grow even though were hundreds of miles away.

Tabitha is still here as a student at USC. We've become close over the summer and I'm so blessed that I got to meet her. She is such a great friend and I pray our friendship continues to grow.

Within the last month we've been getting closer to the Catoe's, Heather and Johnny. How did we meet? Our husbands work together at Haier. With me waiting tables when we first moved here it was hard to get better acquainted. So we've started weekly Thursday night dinners with a home cooked meal and playing a game.

Over the past few years I feel like its either me moving far away from my friends or my friends moving far away from me. Please keep me and my friends in your prayers.