Not all friendships are meant for forever. This is confusing to consider when so much of what we’re taught about friendship is in the context of either the permanence of covenant marriage or the theology of Christian niceness. It is difficult when we have spent extenuated seasons of life in loneliness and are desperate to hang onto companionship. It requires thought when we consider Jesus’ mandate to love. While we are never off the hook of loving others, there may be some relational hooks we need to dislodge in order to be at peace. And sometimes the most peaceful thing to do is walk away. The question is when and how?

The holidays can be tough for singles…but don’t let the family-obsession of holidays make you forget all of the other components that make up a life.

In many ways making friends hasn’t evolved much since childhood. Sometimes it really is as simple as picking a kid on the playground, and asking them to be your friend. We can all do better at smiling and saying hello.