A FRIEND

Friendship by phala on flickr

Every one needs a friend, but who do you classify as a friend? Is it the one you go out to party with, church members, school mates or the one you can pour out your heart without fear of betrayal.  Sometimes we see our mothers as the only trusted persons in our lives, but every one needs a friend aside family members.

A Friend for me is that person who can be very honest with me, reprimand me when i go wrong, forgive me when i offend him/her and still defend me before people even when am wrong, that loyal person who knows and sees my weaknesses and still wants to be with me. A friend is someone who understands your past, believes in your future, and accepts you just the way you are

A friend according to Jerry & Mary White in their book "Friends & Friendship" can be defined as a "trusted confidant to whom i am mutually drawn as a companion and an ally, whose love for me is not dependent on my performance, and whose influence draws me closer to God"

Everyone has an ideal expectation of friendship, who, what, how a person is to be classify as a friend, but the most important aspect is whether the person posses the characteristics of a friend.

Best friends forever by Go Splat on flickr

There are different types and levels of friendship. this includes and not limited to:

1st Casual Friends
Theses are people we normally see or meet in our course of living.  We know them by their first names and occasionally initiate social contact with them. They include church friends, some co-workers, neighbors, former classmates and many others.  These friends may last for a few months to years.

 2nd Close Friends
Theses are people we develop close friendships through our various association.  They can be grouped into three categories, as associate friendship, personal friends and mentors.
Associate friends are our co-workers with whom we have necessary close working relationship on the job with, such as your boss, subordinate, committee members etc.

Personal Friends are people we have personal relationship with, they are those we see or talk to frequently.  They remain close for many years regardless of age and distance.

Mentor: this is a person who contribute significantly to your life. It could be the one who counsels you in hard times or who disciples you.

3rd Intimate Friends
These are few people to whom we can pour out our souls, share our deepest feelings and hopes.  They meet us at the point of deepest need and enjoy and look forward to being with them above all others.  This friendship have a lasting quality which develops over years.

Characteristics of a friend

Loyalty
self sacrifice
love
deep sharing
fun

Friendship will either be strengthened or broken by conflict, conflicts that are unresolved breaks friendship, but conflicts that are recognized and resolved builds friendship.  We must learn to solve problems with our friends amicably and in love, issues that are beyond reconciliation should not break friendship completely.