“Better is open rebuke than hidden love.”

The very next verse starts with “wounds from a friend can be trusted.” Obviously, this doesn’t mean physical wounds, although they may be less painful. Having people in your life who can be trusted to speak hard truths is a great gift. It can be amazing, albeit difficult, for spouses to reach this place. But when we have even a few genuinely heart-connected friends who have the freedom and sensitivity to speak not only encouraging words to us but also things we may not enjoy hearing, that’s powerful. I would venture to guess that well below 20% of people have those friends. I’ve been incredibly blessed to have one who has been in my life since we were both 15 years old. In over 50 years of friendship, he’s probably only spoken truly hard-to-hear counsel to me less than a dozen times. Upon reflection, I realize that many more times he did it in ways that showed he understood me so well that I didn’t even realize he was doing it. That’s what knowing your friend looks like—understanding how they receive counsel best. I also have another group of friends I’ve known for a number of years, and when they speak, I listen carefully—more than they probably realize. I don’t want to miss a word because I know they speak with no hidden or self-serving agenda. I believe Solomon is inferring that open rebuke from a friend is love. Today, be that friend. #BeTheEdge

“Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.” Ephesians‬ ‭4‬:‭15‬ ‭NIV‬‬