I have a friend that I only send memes or funny stuff to.

You gotta have a friend like that, right?

We met up, and all of a sudden I realized that even though we technically “communicated” often, we didn’t know much about what was really going on in each other’s lives.

We didn’t know about the more serious stuff. The struggles. The big decisions. The heartfelt emotions.

We had a lot of catching up to do. (And it was still fun!)

I had a chance to meet up with an old coworker too.

We’ve done really good at keeping in touch with the serious stuff in life.

I know about her health struggles, she knows about my struggles with figuring out work.

We are really good at having serious conversations.

And so when we met up, I realized she didn’t know about the funny moments in my life! The times where Barrett is covered in who-knows-what from digging in the trash, and the adorable job Quin did at her first dance recital.

I love both of these friends so dearly and I value their friendships for the different ways that they happen.

Because I need both kinds of friends.

But I also realized… I want my Heavenly Father and my Savior to be both kinds of friends to me, and I to Them.

I want the formal, big, serious stuff.

The down-on-my-knees, eyes-filled-with-tears, bearing my soul kind of prayer.

And I also want to share the easier, lighter, day-to-day stuff.

The prayer for patience as my daughter insists on telling me a story before she will buckle her car seat. The prayer of gratitude when my son gives a huge laugh.

I want both with Them.

The Lord taught:

“In prayer always, vocally and in thy heart, in public and in private”. D&C 81:3

Formal prayers are essential.

Informal prayers are essential.

We need both.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Two kinds of friends and prayers first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

“Someone who invites you to their parties, is super fun to hang out with, and responds to your texts!”

But since my high school days of tons of friends, (very G-rated) parties every weekend, and texting all day (as long as I didn’t go over my monthly limit), my experiences with friends have changed.

I’ve had periods of time where I’ve made friends quickly. And I’ve had other periods where I’ve moved to a new place and never felt like I quite fit in.

And I’ve learned to change my definition of “friend”.

Instead of people my age who are super fun and invite me to do things, I’ve learned that I can make friends with anyone, of any age, in any life circumstance.

I’ve learned that while I can’t control who “likes” me, I can control who I reach out to.

Sisters that I’ve ministered to, served with, called, accidentally cried with, reached out to…

Those are the people I consider my friends.

Who were Jared and his brother concerned about, as much as their families?

Their friends.

When Jared asked his brother to pray for the Lord, he requested that the Lord specifically spare their friends, and they all travelled together to the new land.

We don’t get many stories of friendship in the Book of Mormon, so this really stood out to me as I studied.

Jared and the Brother of Jared wanted to be with their friends.

Maybe they hung out together every evening and enjoyed each other’s company.

But I bet that they bore each other’s burdens.

They had sympathy, they jumped up in the middle of the night, they went out of their way to serve…

And when we serve, we grow our love towards that person.

When I want more friends, I know that I can find more people to serve and get to know.

I’m grateful for the amazing friends that I have – the ones who have served my family, and the ones who allow me to serve them.

And I’m grateful that the friendships, not just the family relationships, that I make in this life will continue into the eternities.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Making new friends first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.