Donna Burke, Author at 1Africa

Raising kids who care for the environment

-

March 8, 2016

Raising kids who care for the environment

Parents have a mammoth job. The responsibility of instructing another individual on how to be a fully functioning, well-rounded member of the human race is no mean feat! There are basic, practical things like walking, talking and using the bathroom correctly, that need to be imparted with patience and care. Then there are life skills like manners, confidence and social interaction, not to mention encouragement in the area of academic subjects like numeracy, literacy and the sciences. So with all of these things that parents need to pass on, should we be adding care for the environment to the list?

As old as the hills

Environmental issues are nothing new. The hole in the ozone has been a concern for decades, global warming and the threat to the rainforest, similarly, are not new worries. Leonard DiCaprio famously used his Best Actor acceptance speech recently to again highlight the environmental challenges the world is facing and he wasn’t alone in calling for the population to continue the fight to fix the problems we have caused.

It’s in our hands

When the world was created, God gave man stewardship over it and as stewards or caretaker, we have a responsibility to guard the wondrous Earth we live on. Sadly, many adults are either apathetic or confused about how they can contribute to the global effort of protecting our environment, so how are they to teach their children to respect and nurture the world around them?

Here are some ideas of things you can do to encourage your family to care for the environment.

Get outside. It’s hard to appreciate and care about something you haven’t experienced, so what better way to develop a concern and respect for nature than to enjoy it. Work in the garden, go for a walk or visit a park and take time to notice and marvel at the plants and wildlife that you encounter.
Encourage conservation habits. Turning off lights and limiting water-use are both tasks that children can easily be encouraged in. Also the importance of saving resources is a fairly simple concept for children to grasp and can be a great talking point.
Have a meat-free day. You don’t have to be a vegetarian to reduce your carbon-footprint by going meat-free. Pick one day a week and introduce a meat-free meal. Get your kids involved in the cooking process or in buying the ingredients and talk about the impact that producing meat has on the environment.
Start recycling. Find a local recycling bank and start collecting paper, glass and plastic to deposit. Turn it into a fun family experience. It shouldn’t be a chore.
Arrange a clean-up day. This can be something you do with as a church group, school class or neighbourhood. Find a local park, beach or public place and spend a few hours collecting rubbish and cleaning up the area for the whole community to enjoy.

All things bright and beautiful

Our world is a beautiful and precious place that we should care for and do our best to protect. The Bible tells us in Psalm 19:

The heavens proclaim the glory of God.
The skies display his craftsmanship.
Day after day they continue to speak;
night after night they make him known.

Creation itself reveals God to us and if for no other reason than that, it is important to value the world we live in and safeguard it for future generations.

5 reasons why reading is a good idea

Lifestyle

Donna Burke

-

March 1, 2016

2

The ability to read is a wonderful gift. Sadly, for those of us who have had the benefit of an education and someone who spent the time and effort needed to teach us this skill, it’s very possible to take reading for granted.

A valuable gift

According to Unesco, 17% of the world’s adult population are still illiterate. In addition, approximately 122 million youths around the world are also unable to read. The majority of those who are lacking this skill globally tend to be women and the inability to read is one of the contributing factors in the inequality found between the sexes. Think for a moment what it would be like to not be able to read. Simple things like understanding food packaging, following direction signs or filling out forms become difficult, if not impossible. Being able to read is an integral part of being able to function in society and without it, basic activities become intensely frustrating.

Obviously the mere fact that you are reading this post indicates that you are numbered among the population who are able to read but in case you need some incentive to use this ability to the full, here are some benefits that reading adds to your life:

It’s fun! Maybe this isn’t the biggest draw academically but reading is a great form of entertainment. You can take it with you wherever you’re going. You can lose yourself in different worlds, stories or adventures. The things you read can move you and make you laugh. It’s also an addictive form of escapism and a great form of stress relief.
It engages your mind. Reading requires you to think. When you read, your mind needs to focus and you must concentrate in order to understand what you are reading. The more you read, the better you become at it, and the more exercise you are giving your mind.
It exercises your imagination. Television and movies tell us stories through pictures, showing us places, people, and scenarios. Books, on the other hand, leave gaps for us to imagine the characters and locations and fill in the blanks with our imagination.
It grows your language skills. Without reading your language and vocabulary is limited to the words you hear used around you. Through reading your language skills are broadened and developed and you can be exposed to a wider vocabulary than you would otherwise experience.
It’s a way to learn. Through books, the internet, magazines and newspapers we are able collect information, learn skills, challenge ways of thinking and come up with new ways to approach problems. Reading also opens us to learning how other people view the world and exposes us to facts and experiences that we may not come into contact with unless we read about them. Reading makes you smarter, improves your memory, and also makes you a more interesting individual.

Fighting a losing battle?

Lifestyle

Donna Burke

-

February 25, 2016

0

Swimming against the tide takes effort. Sometimes it’s easier to go with the flow and let what will be, be, but in order to achieve a desired outcome you have to work against the natural flow of things and swim in the other direction.

Taking the good with the bad

There are many joys that come with being a parent. There is an undeniable thrill when you witness your baby learning to crawl or taking their first steps. Those moments when your increasingly independent youngster gives you a cuddle “just because” or picks up their school clothes without being asked. All of these are good things, but there are also moments that register on the “not-so-great” scale.

It’s not just me

Recently I saw a video posted on a friend’s Facebook wall that pretty much explained why I don’t seem to get anything done during my days at home. It reminded me that I’m not the only parent swimming in the opposite direction to my kids’ desire to create chaos.

Apart from the normal daily routine, in the past two days I have made the beds in my home a total of four times. Considering that we are a household of five beds, that’s 20 beds made in two days – and one of them is a top bunk. The reason? My three-year-old has decided that when Mommy makes a bed, and it looks nice and tidy, the obvious thing is to indulge her inner Goldilocks, climb in between the covers (or throw them on the floor) and check whether the bed was made “just right”. I can certainly see the funny side to this battle of the bedding but initially the frustration caused certain moments rated on my “not-so-great” scale.

Fighting a losing battle

Remaking a few beds may seem minor but there are days when it honestly feels like being mom means you’re walking against the wind. As fast as you can clean, tidy or fold, someone somewhere is unpacking, untidying and creating the next job on your list of things to do. It’s a never-ending story and no matter how hard you try, you never quite get ahead of the curve.

Do you measure up?

There is nothing more demoralising than feeling like you are constantly playing catch up. Even though you’re doing your best, you just can’t seem to win.

Most of us would like to consider ourselves good people. We try to be kind, caring, loyal to our friends, hard working, trust-worthy, and all the other things that are expected of decent human beings. Yet, deep down, if we’re really being honest, aren’t there times when we realise we’re not quite as good as we would like to be? Those moments when you’re frustrated and take it out on your family; or when you’ve gossiped about your friend or lost your temper when you promised yourself you wouldn’t. We all make mistakes and end up being less than we would like to be, our good intentions and motives unable to stand up against our own frailties.

You’re not on your own

It’s a universal complaint, something everyone has had to face. In the Bible, the Apostle Paul put it this way,

What I don’t understand about myself is that I decide one way, but then I act another, doing things I absolutely despise. So if I can’t be trusted to figure out what is best for myself and then do it, it becomes obvious that God’s command is necessary.

The desire to be good, while honourable, on it’s own achieves very little. Our human nature is working against us, kind of like a child unpacking a drawer as fast as you can pack it. The Bible tells us that we all fall short when it comes to being good, but it also shows us how through Jesus, God has given us a way to measure up and be the kind of people He created us to be in the first place.

If you would like to know more please click the link below.

Don’t take my word – see for yourself

Donna Burke

-

February 18, 2016

0

Einstein once said:

“The only source of knowledge is experience”

It’s funny how sometimes you can know all there is to know on a topic but until you actually experience something, your knowledge is just a theory.

Living the dream

I have four children under the age of eight. The most common question I get from strangers (and sometimes from friends) is, “How do you do it?” It’s a valid question.

Most people find the idea of a larger than average family at best overwhelming and at worst sheer madness, but I’m never really sure how to answer this question because the truth is, I don’t know. Many people who ask this will tell me that they have children of their own (normally two) and the idea of managing four makes their eyes grow big and their pulse race. I can only imagine what mental image they’re conjuring up of what it takes to parent my brood, but I’m fairly certain that it’s much worse than my actual reality.

If there is one thing I’ve learnt it’s that no two children or parents or homes are the same. What one person sees as hard, another will find a walk in the park. For some one child is a handful and for others… well, you get the picture.

Walk a mile in their shoes

Regardless of the size of their brood I’m fairly certain that even on their best days most parent will tell you that raising a child takes every ounce of strength, patience and character that they have within them. Those that make it look easy are, under the surface, holding it all together and hoping they get enough right to make up for the mistakes that happen on a regular basis. Just like a swan, on the surface it may be graceful gliding but underneath is where all the action is. The honest truth is that until you’ve been there and had a go you really don’t know what a day in the life of a parent is like or more to the point, what it will be like for you!

See for yourself

I’ve discovered faith is similar. I’ve been a Christian all my life. It doesn’t matter how well I explain what I believe, give the reasons for my faith in God or even let you observe me living day to day in a relationship with Jesus, none of those things will ever give a complete picture of what it is to know God, they can only ever be second hand information. The only way to have a true view of what faith in God is like to experience it for yourself. There maybe similarities and crossovers but ultimately a relationship is unique to the individual.

So why would you judge something that is supposed to be experienced personally based on someone else’s reality?

The enemies of honesty

Lifestyle

Donna Burke

-

February 16, 2016

0

Over my last three posts I’ve been looking at core values that help build strong character in our children. I was inspired to write this series of posts by my daughter’s school. The teachers are focusing on 4 key characteristics: integrity, respect, compassion and this, the final post, is all about honesty.

Honesty is the best policy

If you ask anyone, not just parents, I’m fairly certain they would tell you that it’s important to be honest. While this is maybe a universally held belief it’s amazing how many of us find it acceptable to bend the truth from time to time and would possibly struggle to say why it’s important to value honesty. Double standards? Maybe. But the fact is honesty is a fragile thing that has many enemies to overcome.

The truth hurts

So why is it so hard to be honest sometimes? Very often an act of self-preservation holds the key to this question but it can be broken down into specific enemies that work against our desire to live honest lives.

Enemy #1 – Fear of Conflict: I don’t enjoy conflict. I’m not a fighter at all, so I completely relate to the desire to change the truth to avoid a messy, angry confrontation. Sadly employing dishonesty to resolve issues or dealing in half-truths by withholding the real problem only means that you drag out the situation and end up having to deal with much more than just the original point of conflict. The first price you pay in a conflict situation is the cheapest. The longer you leave it the higher the cost.

Enemy #2 – Fear of rejection: No one wants to be told they’ve done something badly or that they’re not wanted. Sometimes it’s easier to withhold the truth or own up to something you’ve done because you fear that you will be rejected or treated differently because of it. One of the lessons we’ve had to learn in my house is that if you blame someone else for something you’ve done, you’re going to be in more trouble for lying than you are for the thing that you did in the first place.

Enemy #3 – Fear of reality: In life there are always going to be some people who see the glass half full and others who see it half empty. Most of us are wired to either be optimistic about life or to take a slightly less rosy view of things, but when you’re so eager to put a good spin on things to make everything appear awesome the line between truth and lie becomes blurred. I’m not saying it’s wrong to be positive – I’m all for looking on the bright side – but be careful not to hide a less positive reality in the name of optimism.

Honest to goodness

Being an honest person is challenging, especially in an age when our lives are so often on show via social media and we want to always look our best. While it can feel at times that living honestly is hard work, the benefits of being a truthful person are many. Honest people have more friends, are happier, are more confident and healthier than those who are less honest. Like many things, being honest is a choice that needs to be made every time you’re confronted with the opportunity to choose the truth or a lie – the decision is completely up to you. Abraham Lincoln, the US President (also known as ‘Honest Ab’) said:

‘No man has a good enough memory to make a successful liar.’

Lies are stressful and need to be maintained. It’s much easier to be honest than to have to create a story to back up a lie, not to mention keeping track of whom you’ve told what version of your story to.

While lying may seem like a good idea in the beginning it can quickly become very messy. Jesus said in the New Testament that “the truth will set you free”. The truth may not always be pretty or comfortable and it may cost you something, but it ultimately leads to a place of freedom.

Does your compassion move you?

Donna Burke

-

February 11, 2016

0

Life Happens

Life is wonderful. It can also be incredibly hard. From one day to the next you never know what’s around the corner and a single moment can change your life from one of ease and happiness to a scenario of sorrow and hardship. Sickness, loss, financial struggles, and conflict can hit anyone at any time, without notice, and none of us are immune. It’s during the hard times when a little something called compassion from those around you can make all the difference.

There is a section in the New Testament of the Bible that tells us that true religion, as far as God is concerned, is when we reach out to the orphan and the widow when they are in need. Jesus taught us that we should love our neighbour as we love ourself. He also said that our actions towards others should mirror how we would like other people to act towards us.

As I’ve written before, my daughter’s school is introducing four integral values that will help build character in their students. Having already looked at respect and integrity, I completely understand why compassion was included in the list. Along with honesty, integrity and respect, compassion can transform a person from being a selfish, insular individual into a caring and generous person.

What is compassion?

Very often when someone talks about compassion, it is used in the same context as sympathy. While these two emotions may feel similar on the surface, at its heart there is something about compassion that sets it apart and makes it much more powerful than sympathy will ever be. To feel compassion is to be aware of, and to share in, someone’s pain or suffering but also to have a strong desire to do something about it. Sympathy just feels but compassion does!

Can I kiss it better?

Children have a remarkable propensity for compassion. Have you ever seen a young child witness someone crying or getting hurt? Very often their only thought is to stop the pain or help dry tears. It’s quite moving to experience a small child being so moved by someone else’s sorrow. It’s generally thought that kids, especially toddlers, are self-centred and unconcerned with those around them, but when faced with someone who is upset, all they want to do is make it better. Sadly, as life goes on other things can crowd out the desire to help. Self-preservation, greed and apathy, if allowed, can strangle a natural desire to help others. It’s up to us as parents to help protect this God-given trait to be compassionate so that caring kids become caring adults.

Here are some ways to encourage your kids and keep their compassion alive:

1. Help others! It’s the simple things that can make the biggest impact. If someone falls down, encourage your child to help them up. If it’s time to pack away toys, make it a group effort. If you see someone struggling to carry lots of things at one time, help share their load. It’s not about the size of the task but the culture of being helpful. One of the ways my daughter’s school is encouraging compassion is by collecting items, toothbrushes, small toys, and sweets to make up Christmas presents for underprivileged kids. It’s a fun way for her to be involved in making someone else’s life a bit brighter.

2. Talk about it: I’ve written before about the fact that we have people knocking at our door on a regular basis, looking for help with food and clothing. My children want to know why these people need help so we talk about the fact that not everyone lives like we do or has enough food to eat. We also make it clear that we should help them when we can, because it’s right to help others. Don’t hide the fact that people need help from your kids, use it as an opportunity to talk about how you can be compassionate.

3. Be compassionate: As mom, or dad, you have so many opportunities to be compassionate, especially to your kids. If you are creating an environment of compassion at home, it will be the norm for your child. They will take that with them into the world and show compassion to others in the same way it has been modelled to them. Let your kids see you helping out a friend in need or donating to people who are experiencing hardship. Volunteer together at a charity helping people or simply remember to be compassionate to each other. You’re the best role model your kids will ever see.

Compassion is a powerful thing and a wonderful gift to give to our children. Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote, “It is one of the most beautiful compensations of life that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself.” Compassion makes us better people and makes the world a better place.

With all due respect…

Donna Burke

-

February 10, 2016

0

R.E.S.P.E.C.T

In my previous post I began looking at four qualities that are found in people of character: Integrity, Respect, Honesty, and Compassion. Last time the focus was on the value of integrity. This post is all about respect.

Unlike integrity, respect is a characteristic that comes up quite a bit in popular culture. There are songs written about, it’s something that most people desire from those around them, and you often hear of individuals described as being respected in their area of expertise. Despite this, trying to explain the concept of respect to a child can still be tricky.

The dictionary defines respect as being:

A feeling of admiring someone or something that is good, valuable, important, etc. A feeling or understanding that someone or something is important, serious, etc., and should be treated in an appropriate way. A particular way of thinking about or looking at something.

Respect is all about how we treat other people. It’s about placing value on others and acting accordingly.

I went to a parents evening at my daughter’s school recently and the principal spoke to the parents about respect. He outlined three different types of respect which make explaining and teaching respect a whole lot easier for parents hoping to raise well-rounded, respectful, amazing kids.

1. Respect that is given

As individuals we each have our own decision to make about how we view other people. I personally believe that everyone, regardless of race, religion, background or social standing, is valuable and created equal by God. This personal belief means that everyone deserves to be treated with respect, and I show or give them respect because of this and nothing else. This is not a respect that can be earned, it is given freely without reservation.

2. Respect for a position

The Bible gives a great example of respect for a position in the Ten Commandments. In Genesis 20:12 we are told to honour our father and mother. No reason is given for this – it’s not based on whether they are good parents or not. The reason to give respect in this instance is purely because of the position of authority that they hold. Teachers, parents, country leaders, police officers, your boss, all of these are positions of authority and demand a level of respect. It is appropriate to respect people who hold positions of responsibility, not because of who they are as individuals but because of the role they fulfil.

3. Respect that is earned

This is the one expression of respect that is based on qualities or abilities that people have. You may respect someone for their generosity, their honesty, their courage, or the wisdom they live by. You can also respect someone because of their skill; footballers, actors, musicians and the like. When someone has earned your respect it normally denotes a certain level of trust and emotional investment.

Respect for fellow men is one thing, but the Bible takes the idea of respect a step further. In the book of Psalms we read that an awed respect of God is the beginning of wisdom. Through it we are able to learn, and to gain insight about life and the world that otherwise would be closed to us.

Live and learn

We live in a diverse world made up of different people groups; cultures that conflict with each other; a variety of races. Without respect it’s impossible for these differing factions to live in anything even remotely resembling harmony and peace. If as individuals we are unable to respect those who think differently or espouse different values than we do, we withdraw, become insular and develop notions of superiority. You cannot learn if you don’t have respect for the ideas or teaching of others – and a person who is unable to learn is a sad individual to say the least.

Integrity begins with you, mom

Donna Burke

-

February 4, 2016

0

The Man in the Mirror

One of the aspects I love most about being a parent is the unexpected things children bring into your life and the way they challenge you to be a better you.

My eldest daughter is in her second year of primary school. She’s loving it and I’m loving seeing her grow and become her own person. Part of the focus for the whole school this year, are four key values that they want to encourage in their students. The teachers have chosen Honesty, Integrity, Compassion and Respect. As Mom, I love that her school is interested in more than just reading and writing. While academic skills are very necessary, strength of character and the ability to treat others well are vital for anyone going out into the world and hopefully helping to make it a better place.

The buck stops here

I firmly believe that while teachers and educators play a huge role in a child’s education, the primary educators should be their parents. Because of this I’ve been thinking about how I can reinforce these values in my child and will be looking at a different character trait over the next four posts to find ways to encourage and nurture these valuable qualities.

Integrity – a firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values: incorruptibility. An unimpaired condition: soundness. The quality or state of being complete or undivided: completeness

Integrity is one of those words that is used all the time, but if you ask for a definition you may well get multiple answers, all slightly different. When explaining something like integrity to a child its best to keep it simple and make the quality easy to grasp. It’s hard to be something if you don’t understand it. The writer C.S Lewis described it this way:

“Integrity is doing the right thing, even when no one is watching”.

So how, as parents and caregivers, do we teach children how to be more integrous? Here are a few ideas to get you started.

1. Do what you say

Jesus taught us that we need to let our yes be yes and our no be no and as simple as it sounds it’s the cornerstone of being a person of integrity. As adults we need to be sure that our words line up with our actions at all times and that we follow through on our promises.

2. Be transparent

It can be tempting at times to cut corners. Maybe signing that homework was completed but you’ve only done half the reading assignment because it’s bedtime. Skipping a stop street because there’s no one else on the road. These things may seem innocent or excusable but children watch and remember and will do what you do rather than what you say.

3. Take a stand

Integrity is about being consistent and sticking to your beliefs. Encourage your child to stand up for what is right even when others might not agree with them.

4. Speak it out

Make integrity a discussion topic that comes up regularly in your home. When you see someone acting with integrity or your child does something right without anyone else being aware of what they’re doing, point it out and celebrate it. Positive reinforcement is more powerful than criticism.

Let it begin with me

No one has ever been the poorer for being a person of integrity. The ability to do what is right when others are bending to the winds of popular opinion or taking shortcuts to make life easier, is immensely valuable. The world could benefit from more people of integrity and I’m certainly challenged by the thought that the limit to which my children do or don’t exhibit this character trait is largely up to how much integrity they see in me!

Leaving behind a legacy

Donna Burke

-

February 2, 2016

0

Ashes to Ashes

It’s not a terribly happy topic, but recently my husband and I have been talking about what would happen if one of us were to pass away. Neither of us are unwell and, being in our 30’s, hopefully have a good number of years (in) ahead of us but with four children in the mix, should the unthinkable happen the(n) one us, the surviving spouse would have a big job on their hands and I think it’s good to be prepared.

Beyond the terrible heartache and the obvious change to daily life a death in the family would bring, I’ve been thinking about the legacy I would be leaving behind and what my children will have to remember me by when I’m gone.

In loving memory

The dictionary defines legacy as something handed down from one generation to the next. It could be material items, finances, property or something less tangible like attitudes, culture or values. We often think of legacy as being something great and majestic but not everyone has a family fortune or a royal title to bestow – but that doesn’t mean they don’t have anything of value to pass on when they leave this life for the next.

Keeping it in the family

I was fortunate enough to know all four of my grandparents. All of them lived until I was an adult with children of my own. In material terms I didn’t receive much of an inheritance when they passed away. The things they left me were personal, cherished, and in many ways more valuable than any possession or “thing” could be. I inherited one grandmother’s love of giving unique names to her children and from her husband I was given a love of books and a shared favourite author. My other grandfather passed on fascination and passion for family history and words and from his wife I inherited her hair.

The one thing I have that was part of all of them is a shared faith. Each one had a faith in God that was core to who they were and how they lived. This is something that has been passed on to me through my parents and I will in turn pass it on to my children. The way we practice our faith may look different. The expression of what we believe may not follow the same patterns or processes but at the heart of what they believed, what my parents believe, and now what I believe, is the same faith.

In natural terms this may seem like a poor legacy to hand on, but in practice this is the most valuable thing they could have left for me, and the rest of the family that continues even though they are no longer around. My faith in God not only enriches my life and gives me hope and a promise for the future, but it also binds me to my family, gives me an identity and a sense of being part of something bigger than just myself.

Pass it on

We live in a time where only the privileged few seem to be able to leave anything of material substance to the next generation but that doesn’t mean leaving a legacy is no longer possible. What are you going to leave behind and how will your memory influence the next generation?

Why having friends is good for you

Relationships

Donna Burke

-

January 29, 2016

2

I’m not your friend anymore

Arguments happen in every home. In our house when things have gotten really heated and there’s nothing left to say, my girls’ favourite “last words” in any disagreement have become the all encompassing “I’m not your friend anymore”. Thankfully this resolution only lasts for as long as the offense is remembered (normally a max of five minutes) and after that normal relation resume. What strikes me though is that even at seven, five and three years old, it is understood that friendship is valuable and withholding it from someone will cause them pain.

Experts agree that the role friendships play in our lives is one of the most important and yet least understood areas of psychology. Studies have been conducted on friendships between children but adult friendships are less well researched. This, however, doesn’t mean they are without value.

Stop the world…

As life gets busier and the responsibilities of work, family and all the rest grow, our friendships seem to be one area that gets placed on the shelf first, while we focus on juggling the other aspects of our day-to-day. As a mom, I know that dividing my time between my husband, my kids, their various routines, running the house, and making time for my own sanity, leaves very little energy and space for my friendships. It’s sad to say that these are often neglected and not given the time that they deserve. The truth is, though, that because of all the things that steal our time, friendships are a necessary ingredient to building a happy, healthy, balanced life. We were created to be relational; it’s a natural human desire and reflects the fact that God created us to have a relationship with him.

As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.

You may feel that you’re too busy for friends or that friendships don’t really add anything to your life, but in reality friendships provide mutual benefit and on many levels real friends make life much sweeter. Here are some of the perks of having good friends:

You’re less lonely. Sounds ridiculously obvious but loneliness is painful and demoralizing. Pursuing your friendships is worth the effort if only to avoid experiencing loneliness.
They celebrate with you. Your victories and successes are more joyful and sweeter when you can share them with people who are genuinely pleased for you.
Friends will cry with you. True friends can share your burdens and support you through tough times so you don’t need to navigate a difficult season alone.
They challenge you. Honest friendships can call you out when you’re making bad choices, point out when you’re wrong, and challenge you to be better in a way no other relationship can.
Friends broaden your experience. While your family will most likely have a similar worldview and culture, friendships expose you to different opinions, ways of doing things, and experiences beyond your sphere.
They spur you on. Friendships can motivate you to do better, encourage you to try new things, and inspire you to attempt more or to follow your dreams, especially if your friends are cheering you on and wanting you to succeed.
Friends make us happy. Studies show that friendships improve our lives because we’re happier when we have friends. Having someone there to share life with makes the journey more enjoyable.

Seek and you shall find

There are many benefits to friendship and most of us will agree that friends are important. For some, finding good friends is a challenge and this list above, instead of encouraging them, has left them longing for a friend that will add joy and colour to their daily lives. This quality of relationship takes work and a certain amount of faith but the benefits far exceed the effort required. You may not have a relationship like this at present but that doesn’t mean it will never be yours to enjoy.

Keep seeking to be a friend to those around you and look for ways to invest time into your relationships because it’s an old truth, but a truth none-the-less, that to have a friend you must be a friend.

Donna Burke

Connect with us