Friendship is a beautiful thing. It can offer support when times are difficult and a place to share joy when life is good. Friends are often the ones who can speak truth to us when others might fade into the background. It is a relationship that is chosen rather than determined by location or bloodlines. We all need friends, however young or old we are.

July can be a tricky time for many children and young people as they prepare to say goodbye to friends. Many children spend the last weeks of school saying farewell to classmates who will be moving on to new schools or colleges, saying goodbye to teachers or moving on in classes.

The end of the summer term marks that transition to new horizons, although some will have forged friendships in those times that can last a lifetime.

As adults, moving around can create a strain on friendships, getting together becomes harder, but true friendship will cover the distance and meeting up can be like picking up where we left off.

Jesus had friendships during his lifetime on earth, we hear about his disciples and followers and the women who joined him on his journeys. One particular family of siblings comes to mind, of Mary, Martha and their brother Lazarus. We don’t know how Jesus came to know them, but they seem to have become close friends of his.

They lived together in the village of Bethany, not far from Jerusalem. For Jesus the traveller, followed by crowds, maybe they provided a safe refuge, a quiet place to stay – somewhere he could just be himself and be refreshed.

On one of his visits Jesus brings some of his disciples and sits down to teach them. Mary joins in, sitting at Jesus’s feet, listening to him; but Martha is running about in the kitchen, annoyed because Mary isn’t helping her. She voices the age-old cry – it isn’t fair! But Jesus replies that Mary has chosen the better part. Mary gives us an example of seeing what’s important in the moment, despite the expectations of others.

Perhaps the lesson for us, is to notice what is happening around us, not to get so caught up in busyness that we miss the opportunity to stop and listen to someone special. To take time to value our friendships and what they offer to us, and what we can offer to them.

Perhaps that is a friend or family member, or even perhaps God who is reaching out his hand of friendship towards you.

Rev Katie Cross