Of Farriers and Friendships

By: Joanne Viola 

 

The news, sports, and recent TV shows had just about worn me down. So I recently turned to watching older and more historical programming. In so doing, a word crossed my path.

Farrier.

Yet what was seen before my eyes was an old fashioned blacksmith. It was fascinating to watch as he heated a strip of iron, methodically bending and shaping it until it became a horseshoe.

It was a slow process of applying heat first and then pressure or force to form the shape.

Then he called himself “a farrier”.

Farrier, as defined by the dictionary, is: “Farrier is now usually applied specifically to a blacksmith who specializes in shoeing horses, a skill that requires not only the ability to shape and fit horseshoes, but also the ability to clean, trim, and shape a horse’s hooves.” (from the Merriam-Webster Dictionary)

We need heat and force in our lives as well. It can often come through relationships which have been forged over the course of years.

“Iron sharpens iron, So one man sharpens another.”
(Proverbs 27:17, NASB)

People are placed in our lives for purpose. When one has a trustworthy relationship, one who will speak truth into our lives, they can help us to see clearly and become more like Christ.

They are willing to apply the heat to our lives in love and done with grace and mercy. They do so because their heart is for us to walk and live in confidence, fulfilling our purposes.

They will tell us the truth even when it is uncomfortable for them to do so because they care. They want the best for our lives. They take the risk of telling us the truth, of pointing us to the truth, with hopes we will become better people.

“A man of too many friends comes to ruin,
But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”
(Proverbs 18:24, NASB)

Let’s look at this in other translations:

• “There are “friends” who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother.” (NLT)
• “Friends come and friends go, but a true friend sticks by you like family.” (MSG)
• “One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” (NIV)

These various translations shed much light on relationships. There are friendships who will destroy one another. Some will come and go, only remaining in our lives for a period of time. Others are unreliable and will not be a help or encouragement when hard times comes.

So back to the farrier … He carefully and meticulously heated the iron until it was malleable. Once the horseshoe was shaped and cooled, he fitted it onto the horse. Before doing so, he had cleaned out all the hardened dirt and clay from the hooves. Then with the new shoe and cleaned out hooves, the horse was able to walk without pain or limp.

May we choose our relationships wisely.
Those which endure over the years can be a blessing from one generation to another.
Let’s be those who stick closer than a brother.

 

Reflection:
Do you have relationships that will tell you the truth, even when it is difficult for them to say and harder for you to hear? Are you the friend who can be trusted and will stay the course offering encouragement over the course of time?

 

Image by Foto-RaBe from Pixabay