Jon Swanson featured this list of eight ways to encourage a friend. (Love guys who recognize the importance and value of friendship – Jon, you rock!) Thanks to Jon for sharing his list:

1. Take a picture (of your friend, of the two of you, of a cow, of a sign). Print it out (snapfish, flickr, walgreens, your own printer). Write a note telling them specifically how they are making a difference in lives. Mail it to them.

2. When they are in the middle of a busy day, send them a text.

3. Remember their birthday (Facebook, your birthday email from last year).

4. Take five minutes and make a mindmap. Here’s what that is: Put their name in the middle of a piece of paper. Around it make five lists: odd things they do; ways they care about others; objects or activities they love most; things THEY want to do better (NOT what YOU want them to do better); people who speak well of them. Put this paper next to your computer and include items from it in your notes and emails and conversations with them. (It tells them you thought about them).

5. Gossip good about them to a mutual friend.

6. Forgive them (don’t tell them about it, just forgive them).

7. Reply to their emails, even if just to acknowledge receipt.

8. Never assume they know you care.
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I love his ideas and encourage you to share more ways to encourage a friend! So girlfriends, how do you make your friend feel as special as her friendship is to you!