As a teenager, I logged many hours babysitting kids in our tiny Iowa farming community.

Early on in my babysitting “career,” my mom gave me a piece of advice that I’ve not forgotten. Mom told me that after I put the children to bed, I ought to go the extra mile by washing dishes, putting away all the toys, and tidying up before the parents came home.

“Always leave the place better than you found it,” Mom told me.

That’s a great way to treat a house. And it’s the perfect way to treat a friend.

What if we walked into every conversation, every lunch date, every Bible study room, and every Bunco party, with that attitude? What if we sought to leave people better than we found them? We could do that, you know. We could seek to leave people happier and more hopeful than they were before we showed up.

That’s one of the secrets to being a true friend, the best kind of friend.

Join me at (in)courage today, where I’m sharing more. (Click here to find the post.)