I have friends, you have friends, every one around us has friends.
Friendship is a part of life that is as old as mankind itself. And yet, its something that we don't quite understand.
Who are my friends? What makes them friends? How did they become my friends? Do they consider me their friends? What are my expectations of them? Are they aware of those expectations? Do they have the same expectations of me, or different ones? Am I aware of my expectations of them?
These and many more questions often run through my mind when I think of the subject friendship in general, and my own friends in particular.
As I share thoughts with others, I hear these words, "I thought she was my friend. How could she have done this?"
I want to make my friendships real. I want them to last a lifetime. I want them to be impactful for those I call my friends and for me too.
I went out to the book-store this week to buy a gift for a friend. As I browsed the shelves in the store, voila! a title caught my attention. "How to Be A Best Friend Forever" by Dr. John Townsend. Trust me, I picked it up, looked at the back and read these words,
"Friend. It's a word whose meaning is confusing, and whose usage is overdone in our fast-paced world. Increasingly, our circles of "friends" are a mile-wide, yet the relationships are paper-thin. Even so, there's nothing like the sustaining strength and life enriching power of true-blue, forever friends. And we need them now more than ever".
I knew immediately that book was going home with me. I got the gift for my friend, completed my shopping and left the bookstore.
As I write this post, I have Dr. Townsend's book with me. It's my book to read in the coming weeks. I intend to read it and practice the things I learn from it.
I will let you know what my experience is as I get on with reading the book.
Now, the floor is yours. For you, friendship...what does it mean?
It has not been only you, that have had real hard thoughts about friends and friendship.
ReplyDeleteI do not make many, because it is quiet difficult to be friends with so many people. I am loyal to my friends; I give love and always tell my friends the truth. Always the truth. So when I cant be free and open, truthful and unaffectatious, then I cannot consider the person a friend.
Unless, of course, you give a loose interpretation of it. it has always been said that birds of the same feather flock together; yet I have seen friendships among people of diverse nature. Fact is, people attach a purpose for every friendship; or so I have come to find out in the way friends have been built by people. People have made friends to belong; to help in one project or need or for other reasons. But deep true and lasting friendship can only be between people with like beliefs, and trust in each others love, loyalty and dependability. That type of friendship is rare but not unavailable.
I join seriously in your thoughts, so I am eagerly awaiting the lessons from the book you are reading. Friends, True friends, real friends, = scarce commodity.
Hmmmmnnnnn! Lizzy, you have expressed the opinion of many people that I have spoken to on the subject of friendship. Yet, the research keeps pointing to the conclusion that all aspects of our lives are deeply affected by the presence or absence of friendships.. I am currently reading Dr. John Townsend's book, "How to Be a Best Friend Forever" and I will be sharing my thoughts in subsequent posts. I invite you to join me in my journey of discovery.
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