A Perfect Friend

I must have surprised her when I told her she was perfect, because three days later she mentioned it in passing, but brushed it off.

"Whatever," she said.

But I meant it. And she knew it.

It's not that she's flawless, not that I idolize her. It's not because I don't know her hangups or issues. But when I look at her, I see a warm soul, a tender spirit, my friend. I see a woman unafraid to be who she is, giving me the courage to do likewise. I love her so much I don't see the faults.

She has extended the same grace to me for sure. She doesn't make me feel like a nutcase though I've given her many reasons to think so. Instead, she hugs me and tells me to quit being so hard on myself and calls me "E.F." (From the old commercials--"When EF Hutton talks, people listen.") Neither of us is actually perfect, but we see each other that way through lenses of love and grace. We think the best though we know the worst.

If human beings, sinful, flawed people can do this, how must God view us? Isn't His capacity for grace and forgiveness exponentially more than ours? If we can overlook mistakes and shortcomings and call each other "perfect," how much more must His heart overflow with love for us? Isn't it quite likely He looks down at us and says, "Oh sure, she's got some junk to work on, but look at her. Isn't she beautiful? Don't you just love her?"

If the blood of Christ washes us clean, why wouldn't He see us this way?

Hallelujah, Glory Be and Praise the Lord!

To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy--to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.

Jude 24-25

Jesus makes us like Him, spotless before God, able to see as He does. He IS the perfect Friend.

And makes us perfect friends.