Faithful Wounds

Proverbs 27:6a: “Faithful are the wounds of a friend.” As a rule, giving advice unasked is rude. No one likes to be drawn up short. But if we accept it from anyone, it is our friends. Friends may say things that are hard to hear but they help us sort through the clutter in our lives. The vine’s best friend is the vine grower who cuts through the clutter of last year’s growth, positioning vines to ensure grape clusters receive enough sap to fulfill their potential. As the trellis wires guide the vines, we lean on our friends for support, friends that stretch us to reach our goals. And even if some words are curt and graceless, we can still benefit. A few bad cuts from the pruners will not kill the vine, nor stunt its growth. Cuts on a vine or tree will foster new branches. Likewise, criticism from a friend is more likely to give us the determination we need to persevere because we trust them to have our best interests at heart. Do we trust that our Heavenly Father knows what is best for us? Are we friends who are willing to wound those we love with good faith?