There are a lot of things that we have in this world that is important but friends are right at the top. I may be wrong but I think there are different levels of friendship.
You have people you either work with, go to church with or other social functions and they are friends. You talk with them, you listen to them and share things with them.
Then there are the friends that you can really talk to about anything and share things with them that you know you will not hear from someone else because they would never tell. A true friend that is always there for you. Always ready to lend a listening ear or a shoulder to cry on. One you could call at anytime and you know they will come as soon as they can get there. I also think that a true friend is one that even if you do not see each other or talk everyday you still know that they will be there. I have a friend that I have never met in person but I know that I have a true friend in her. She carries a special place in my heart and in my life.
To have these kind of friends you have to be that kind of friend. You get out of a relationship what you put into it.
God blessed us with all kinds of people in our lives and I am thankful to say that he has blessed me all of my life with friends. Some that have come and gone. Some that came and stayed even if you or they have moved, or changed churches or different schools. Long distance friends that you do not see but talk with everyday.
Friendship is in your heart and right next door or across the miles does not change the love and kinship you feel with them.
I had a best friend in high school that was also my second cousin. We were never close growing up and really did not see much of each other. We went to different elementary schools and it was only in high school that we became close. We were tight. We shared everything until a day came that something came between us. Several years later we rekindled that friendship with not a word ever said about the bad ole times. We do not see each other often and we do not talk all the time but we e-mail and keep in touch. Friendship is all about forgiving too. Look at how God sent his son to die for us because he forgave all of our sins.
Friends also come in all ages. I have friends that are my age, much younger and much older. I do not consider age as a factor. It is the feelings and bonding that you have. I had a friend that was only eighteen. Every time we were at church she hugged me and told me she loved me. On the way to church one Sunday a man run a stop sign and hit her and she died several hours later. I still miss her smiling face every time I go to church. She was special and she made an impression on my life.
I consider myself very blessed to have not only a good teacher to work with everyday but she is also my friend. I only have to call to have someone to talk to. She knows when I am up and she knows when I am down. I very much know the same thing about her. That is being a friend. We fuss like two sisters but would fight for each other if someone was hurting the other. You can have daughters, sisters and other family members but they are different from friends. You love them in different ways. You need them in different ways. I love my daughters and I love spending time with them but there are times that I just need friends and it is the same for them. I know that there are things they can not share with me as their mom and they need friends for that. I am thankful for both my friendship with my daughters and my friends. God gave them both to me.
If you have friends let them know how much you appreciate them. They are a special blessing from God. Treat them that way.
Thanks JDG for being a friend. Hope the friendship never wavers. You are a blessing.