Relationship problems are not just between man and wife. Of late, some of my friends have found that relationship problems are between friends as well. I often wonder how friends can become enemies, from experience, my super best friends have simply drifted into the distance... because of my laziness and the lack of commonness between us. Friends that I made in school; the only communication that still exists between us is a friendly facebook greeting on birthdays. The things we talk about when we meet are so trivial that you may say the same things to a stranger on a street. What have you been up to lately? What about person x that you both know? And your parents? 

Then there are other friends, friends that you have met at some point in your life. Friends who have been with you through thick and thin. These friends you may not see often but when you meet up you cannot stop talking. Because you care so deeply about these friends, things can often turn sour. Sometimes it's the minor things that we say or do. Or the things that weren't done that puts a splinter in the relationship. Perhaps the other person doesn't even remember why the splinter was there in the first place. 

We think too much. We care too much. That's why we hurt. Friendships, like romantic relationships take effort to maintain. IT's a two way process. It doesn't work if only one person puts in the effort. Feelings need to be reciprocated. If it's not, it's very hard to maintain. 

 ¹ So when we could stand it no longer, we thought it best to be left by ourselves in Athens. ² We sent Timothy, who is our brother and co-worker in God’s service in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, ³ so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. For you know quite well that we are destined for them. ⁴ In fact, when we were with you, we kept telling you that we would be persecuted. And it turned out that way, as you well know. ⁵ For this reason, when I could stand it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith. I was afraid that in some way the tempter had tempted you and that our labors might have been in vain.

 ¹¹ Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you. ¹² May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. ¹³May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.