BR: Sanctuary

I'm currently reading Chieko Okazki's book "Sanctuary." Haven't finished it but there are some quotes from chapter 1 I felt like sharing.

"Friendship is a gift, a special quality of relationship between people in which some of our social, emotional, and spiritual needs can be met." (p. 6)

"Friendship is built in little ways, with little acts of thoughtfulness and service."
(p. 7)

"Don't underestimate the power of your prayers in the lives of your friends. Kindness, love, and service are the foundations of friendship, but the crown of friendship is the special happiness that you have in each other's presence. And although I think that you can be friendly and cordial with almost everyone, there is a special holiness about true friendship. The trust in that relationship must not be violated or the friendship will be betrayed."
(p.7-8, emphasis added by me.)

"A friendship can be a real sanctuary from an often stormy and demanding world." (p. 8)

"Our truest sanctuary is a heart steadfastly fixed upon the Savior. That is a place of safety that require no walls or doors." (p. 8)
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The #1 friendship-relationship that we should be working on is the one we have with the Savior. He's the only one who will never disappoint us and when we disappoint Him, He understands perfectly why and perfectly forgives every time. He frequently says in the scriptures "my arm is outstretched still" and "how oft would I have gathered you." Our ultimate goal in life, I believe, is to put in the effort to get to know the Savior so well that when we see Him again He will call each one of us 'my friend.'

For all of us, that requires a willingness to change our perspective, forgive ourselves, and believe Him when he says He loves us unconditionally. Sometimes that's not easy but, in order to maintain and advance in friendship, you have to put in the effort to get to know someone; you have to believe that they are worth your time, energy, and attention. The Savior believes that about you but do you believe that about Him? I think the saddest and most profound explanation of this is in the parable of the Ten Virgins in Matthew 25:12. The foolish virgins are unprepared and when they bang on the door, desiring admittance to the Feast of the Bridegroom, he opens the door and says to each one of them, "Verily, I say unto you, I know you not."