Postby josh_manga » Mon Sep 06, 2010 11:45 pm
Friendship is rough sometimes. Every friend i've ever had, male and female, has disappointed me at some point. Growing up i was always interested in the fairer sex, since like the age of 5, so i've had plenty of crushes and dumps. I've gotten a strong impression that females, young females in particular, are very good at being friends and wanting to stay that way.
You may have heard it said "don't date friends". You may have also heard it said "long distance relationships don't work".
Both are not absolutely true. If they were, i would not be married to the woman i am today.
I deeply urge you, at your age, to wait. Not pull back necessarily, but to wait for a sign that this relationship is absolutely what God has designed for you both. I do not believe that your happiness should cost another person their happiness. As things happen to be, this seems to be the case however.
The other young man is your friend, as you've stated, and her friend as well. So while not shunning him is a good thing, i also caution you to be sensitive around him when you and your lady friend are together. No need to be awkward about it, but no reason to create more awkwardness either.
The hardest thing you may face, especially as you and she grow closer in your relationship, may be to share her friendship with another guy, any guy. If she continues to value his friendship, and he continues to value her friendship, this may be a necessity you will continue to face.
How long have they known each other before you met them? Could this be a recent phase of his attraction to her? Has it been going on long for him? You can be certain that whatever he has decided, his emotions may still be contrary to his determination to be superficial friends.
Having been in his shoes, when a guy started courting a girl i already liked, i generally made an attempt to be closer friends with the guy, but this was a decision on my part. If he does not initiate this with you, you may need to exercise the maturity to reach out to him first. Set aside time for the two of you to do things, be friends, build a relationship in a way and context that does not revolve around her. Let your relationship with this young man be distinct, but not exclusive of the others around you.
I sincerely hope that your relationships all around will remain intact and grow in God's love.
God bless,
josh.