Besties | JoJo

In Blog, Podcasts by Josh

Going on vacation with friends can either make or break a friendship. You get to see their true side, their messy habits and you are with them 24/7. It makes you start to wonder if you can handle everything about that person. This can either be a really good thing for your friendship or it can bomb and make you re-think why you are friends with that person.

But, have you ever met a friend that you immediately connect with? It’s the type of person that you should be blood-related to! You are so identical to that person that you might as well be twins!

You know everything about each other. You’ve been by their side for their first date, break-ups, family challenges, wedding, first house, birth of their child and every good and bad life experience in between. You have even managed to keep your relationship strong even after going through hurricane Katrina together. You pick up on life right where you leave off like no time has passed. To have such a person by your side is rare.

That person will love you no matter what, and they help give you Godly advice through any situation. (Maybe it’s family drama or even a fashion emergency – she’s there!)

“Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart and the pleasantness of a friend springs from their heartfelt advice.” Proverbs 27:9 NIV

To think of all the years me and my best friend have been a squad – it seems like just yesterday. Me and my bestie Janine have been friends since sophomore year of high school. We always say to each other that we should’ve been friends sooner, but Freshman year of high school is weird and awkward so it was probably best that we had one year under our belts!

Janine is selfless. She puts herself last and she has such a caring heart. She is a wonderful mother and she inspires me to not only be a better mother to my kids, but also inspires me to be a better friend, sibling, wife and Christian. I love her like family. Every time we are together, people always think we are sisters!

091216 JoJo and Bestie
What’s funny about it is that she actually looks a lot like my middle sister but with red hair! They have a lot of the same mannerisms and facial expressions and it’s crazy because they don’t really hang out! So if you think of it like that, we might as well be sisters!

When you find a friend in your life that you can count on no matter what, a person that inspires you to be better, (not in a competitive way, but in a way that you help each other grow) thank God for that person and show them how much you care. Don’t let petty things get in the way and build your relationship on Godly principals.

I’m pretty sure Janine is sick of me constantly telling her how blessed I am that we are friends, but I can’t help but tell her all the time! Every time we hang out or when we had the chance to go on our very first bestie-family vacation, I’m reminded how God brought us together and it reminds me how grateful I am for our friendship. My family is honored to have her and her family as a part of our lives and I can’t wait to see what the next 15 years brings!

I don’t know what made her say yes to being my friend, but I’m sure glad she did and I’m so happy that God crossed our paths! My life would not be the same without her.

091216 Friend quote