THE LOST ART OF RELATIONSHIP
don’t view you the same way. It has probably happened to all of us.
If there is a mutual friendship, a friend at this level will sense when something is amiss in your life. When you are down, they know it. When you are happy, they celebrate with you. When you are sad, they listen and allow you to cry—but not for long. When you need a push, they provide motivation. When you vouch for your friend, you believe they will represent themselves in an honorable way, knowing that your own reputation is on the line when you call them a friend.
At some point, and no one can really say for sure when this happens in any relationship if at all, you may move on to the highest level of relationship —family.
8. Someone you can call “family”
Someone you can call “family” is someone you can do life with where the boundaries are all but removed. Sure, you still respect the relational boundaries, but truth, honesty, opinions, issues— nothing is off the table for discussion here.
You know that even if you yell, get into a disagreement, or become separated by circumstances or miles, you would be there for each other. If it is possible to be there in person, then you do it. But if not, you are there for them emotionally. Miles should never be an excuse not to pick up a phone and talk about your feelings, circumstances, issues, or to pray together. After all, you are family!
“One loyal friend is worth ten thousand relatives.” ~ Euripides
Some people in our lives describe the family as only those who are blood-re- lated or married into. I would like to blow that definition right out of the water. Sure, being blood-related or related by marriage technically makes you family. But it does not mean you have developed a deep and meaningful relationship that has been tested through all eight of these levels.
For example, I found out one summer that I have a cousin whom I have never met. I just heard about her and saw her on Facebook. We are not at the highest level of relationship just because we have a common bloodline. It will take time, face-to-face connection, and a mutual desire to walk through the levels of relationship.
I am still and will always be a student of relationship. As you read on, I will dive into certain aspects of relationship by sharing stories of people who have influenced me and taught me by their actions and behaviors. These are people who I have allowed to impact my life in profound ways. One of these areas is true friendship, which is what I want to share with you in the next chapter. Let’s continue on the journey!