Guarding Your Heart in Friendship

Having married early, I never had to deal much with guarding my heart in a romantic relationship, but over the course of years, I have learned the necessity of guarding your heart in friendships.  Guarding your heart, in any relationships, means not giving parts of your heart away to someone who doesn't want that, or won't cherish it.  It means not letting yourself get emotionally attached to someone who doesn't feel the same way about you.  Simply put, it's realizing he or she just isn't that into you, and acting accordingly.  Every friendship is different.  There is no one-size-fits-all.  Each friendship must be individually evaluated.  With some friends, you'll share your deepest feelings; with others, you'll just talk about facts.  If you share your feelings with a friend who would rather just talk about facts, you'll not only pretty dumb, but also emotionally violated.  Don't ever give a part of your heart to someone who doesn't want it.  If someone is unwilling to share their heart with you, they will just trample your heart if you share it with them.  Before you share your feelings, be sure that that kind of vulnerability and honesty will be cherished and reciprocated.  Proverbs 18:2 says that fools spout their opinions to anyone.  Don't be a fool; think before you speak.