If you have been hurt in past friendships, it can be natural to want to protect yourself from experiencing that pain again. One way to do this is to be cautious in forming new friendships, and to take the time to get to know a person before fully opening up to them. As Christians, we are called to love others and to share the love of Christ with those around us. When we are focused on protecting ourselves, we may be less open to forming new friendships and may not be as willing to invest in the relationships that we do have. This can prevent us from experiencing the deep and meaningful connections that come from truly loving and being loved by others.
