Dave Havir, challenging us to “be someone special,” suggests that we need to strive to improve the quality of our relationships by mastering the art of encouraging, caring, and taking care of other's needs. Not only should we appreciate those who are special to us, we need to strive to be special to someone else. We need to learn to be good friends and a blessing to other people, being there for other people, making sacrifices for them if necessary, listening to them, and providing emotional support for them. Jonathan sacrificed much for his friend David, even to his own hurt, when he sided with David and protected David against his own father. Jonathan took great risks in providing friendship to David. Many individuals have strained family relationships, making it difficult to not want to get revenge. We need to take our anger at our family member or a stranger to the throne of God, seeking to repay good for evil through the living water of God's Holy Spirit. We can be special to our family if we love our spouses as ourselves, if we obey and honor our parents, and if we teach our children in the ways of the Lord, encouraging them toward truth and stability. Likewise, as children grow into adults, they must assume the responsibility to take care of their aging parents. Sadly, the government has presumptuously attempted to take over the roles that were intended for the family and the church.

Appreciate great relationships * Be someone special * Caring children * Caring for the elderly * Caring parents * Contemporary English Bible * David's fame * Don't forsake friends * Don't repay evil for evil * Encouragement * I Samuel 18:1-33; 20:1-32 * I Thessalonians 2:7-8 * I Timothy 5:8 * Friends * Friendship of David and Jonathan * Jonathan's helping David escape * Goals for children * Goals for parents * Goals for spouses * Good shepherd * Live peaceably * Loyalty in friendship * Neighbor who is close * Overcome evil with good * Place anger at throne of God * Proverbs 27:10 * Relationships * Rivers of Living Water * Romans 12:17-21 * Ross Jutsum * Saul * Saul's anger * Saul's evil spirit * Saul's jealousy * Serving needs * Sharing * Shepherd taking care of sheep * Someone special * Special people * Special relationships * Strained relationships * Taking care of elderly parents * Teachers