I love friends who I can be real around.  No worrying about judgmental glances, paybacks, or being good enough.  To curl up on a friend’s couch and feel at home.  I have a friend like that.  I never feel as though I’m invading her home and can always and completely relax.   I can breathe.  I’ve heard it said before that when you are at peace, it is as though your heart sits down.  I love that.  

I want my friends to feel like that around me.  In my home.  At church.  In the grocery store.  At the park for a play date.  For coffee as we shed tears over how hard motherhood is and, yes, I understand, glances…

I want to be real.  Always.  No pretenses.  No hidden agendas.  No seeking to gain anything in return.  Just completely and utterly real.

To be real it takes stripping down any walls you have up.  It takes removing yourself from the equation and seeking to minister to someone else.  For to be real, it takes a vulnerable willingness to be an open book.  

Are you an open book to those closest to you?  Are you real?  

Linking up with Five Minute Friday.  

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