The glory of Friendship is not the outstretched hand, nor the kindly smile, nor the joy of companionship; it is the spiritual inspiration that comes to one when he discovers that someone else believes in him and is willing to trust him. (Ralph Waldo Emerson)
Someone has said that if you can count your true friends on the fingers of one hand, you are blessed. A friend is one whom you can be yourself with and never fear that he or she will judge you. A friend is someone that you can confide in with complete trust. A friend is someone you respect and that respects you, not based upon worthiness but based upon a likeness of mind.
Faithful friends are a sturdy shelter: whoever finds one has found a treasure. FRIENDSHIP IS AN EXISTENTIAL NEED. It is an art to be cultivated, whether with humans or with God. And this art often involves taking a risk, a willingness to stick out one's neck or even to lay down one's life for one's friend if needed. Just as what Jesus did.
In our culture today, there is much talk about "love" but relatively little about friendship. So what's so special about friendship? It is common that we "fall into" love but we don't "fall into" friendship, although we can "fall out of friendship.
We have to work at friendship; friendship has to be cultivated; it has to be a mutual and mature relationship. When we fall into love, we walk on cloud nine, while being friends may often mean walking through dark valleys together. A friend is "as a way of being more than doing," one who is "being at the disposal of someone else."
Being a friend means "being available"-a sharing of life, knowledge, and self. Being available "involves an attitude, a posture, a signaling that draws on the deepest elements of the self." Such a person can engage and endure "creative schedule interruptions." A friend is one you can count on. In short, friendship makes demands: be there-- availability in life or death situations, in birth or grave encounters of another kind. A friend is even disposed to lay down his life for other friends. Can we be this kind of friend for others? God is such a friend and so is Jesus who calls us "friends," not servants.
One who finds a true friend is similar to one who finds wisdom. Both are worth more than silver, gold, coral, or jewels. Both are fine gifts and given to those who "fear the Lord," which is the beginning of wisdom and probably the start of genuine friendship.
Friendship should not only be based on happy moments but more often during the lowest point of your life.
In my experience there are two kind of friends. There are the one that you hang out with, have fun, laugh with but don’t cry with you. These are the transients, passing friends that when you meet again after three year or three month gap, you will just exchange hellos and nothing much to talk about. And there are those friends whom you meet after two weeks or twenty and still share this incredible connection. These are the friends that stand silently with you when the world falls apart and scales fall away.
As we grow older we learn that person that wasn’t supposed to ever let us down probably will. Life comes with no guarantees, no time outs and very few second chances. But there is one definite SOMEONE who will stay with us no matter what. He will and never will change. He will remain true to us. And will be our friend forever. HE is JESUS OUR GREATEST AND ULTIMATE FRIEND.
