Character of Friendship

A lady friend, that I used to work with, just put this as her status on Facebook,  "Ugh why am I amazed that friends are not really friends! Family talks worse about you than a stranger and the person who says they "love" you is a liar! SMH thank goodness for my boys and strangers! OH and my DOG :) I ❤ them!!" 

When I read this status, it made me sad that she was feeling this way.  Since we no longer work together, I never see her anymore, but try to keep up with her via the social media.  We were never "close" friends, but nonetheless, friends in the sense that I care about what happens to her.  I posted some encouraging words to her that I hope helped.

Isn't it amazing that the ones we care the most about, are the ones that tend to hurt us the most?  I think that is what she was trying to say and the fact that it made her feel used and alone.  Speaking of being used...look at the comic below.

This picture depicts a dog "man's best friend" as a little put out with his owner for wanting him to fetch his stinky ole slippers.  Let's think about how this would play out in how you treat your friends (other than your dog).  Are you the kind of friend that is there for your "besty" when they need you?  Or are you a "fair weather" friend that only wants to share in the good times?  Worst yet, are you the type of friend that is demanding on your friends and feels "above" them?  Maybe you don't even realize that you are treating them with disrespect, but you are when you don't really put yourself into the giving side of the relationship...you only take!  What exactly is true friendship?

Friendship is the companionship and closeness we are to have with one another. It is the commitment to build relationships by getting to know others and help them form good character, and in turn help you. Relationships are essential to life...we need others and they need us. 

"One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." Proverbs 18:24

"As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another." Proverbs 27:17

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