This month, one of my good friends, Brittney Grimes, offered to write the article--Enjoy!!--Alyssa
What a Friend Is
By Brittney Grimes
I think when it comes to teenage friendships; some of the biggest problems are gossip, criticism, cliques, jealousy, and trying to please others so much that you sacrifice doing what is right.
In Philippians 2:4 it says, "Don't think only about your own affairs, but be interested in others too, and what they are doing."
We are so caught up in trying to fit in, that we will gossip about others just to make ourselves look good and try to get on the "in" side, but that only works for a moment.
A friend is not one who puts pressure on you to do something you know is wrong. True friends don't look for what they can get out of other people, or how good other people will make them look. True friends will see others through the eyes of God.
To be a good friend, you have to put others first, before yourself. You also can't be jealous if they get something that you can’t have, or do something that you can't do. Instead, be happy for them. Always treat your friends how you want to be treated.
Good friends are some of the most precious treasures you can have. Bad friends are worse than none; they can only pull you away from your one true friend, Jesus.