The ABCs of Friendship

Have you had your hug today?

The ABCs of Friendship

A Friend . . .

Arrives when I need 'em.

Believes in me.

Cares about my feelings.

Doesn't expect perfection.

Enjoying each other's company.

Forgives me

Gives Golden Apples when I need cheering up.

Holds my hand and listens.

Is not perfect.

Judges me rarely and fairly.

Knows just what to say when I'm sad.

Laughs, lives, and loves with me.

Matures and grows alongside me.

Never abandons me.

Offer support

Pursues peace in our relationship

Quiets your fears

Raise you up when you fall down.

Showing love is more important than being right.

Tells you the truth when you need to hear it

Unconditional Love

Values you

Weather life's storms with you.

X-plains thing you don't understand

Yells when you won't listen and

Zaps you back to reality

Subject: Re: Friendship --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For the past couple of months, I hesitated to read any posts because I'd be tempted to respond. With twwells not working, I wouldn't feel safe responding non-anon. I felt in a double bind. Read and don't respond: feel terrible, or read and respond non-anon and feel terrible. Today I was thinking how wonderful it is for me that the gates of twwells have opened again for me. I was reading the Friendship thread and I feel very happy that I am able to respond now. I am responding to only this aspect of the thread: what is the cherish definition of friendship? What is friendship? Friendship is love. It is loving and being loved no matter what. Friendship is joy. It is laughing and loving and caring. Friendship is based on faith, believing, and the expectation of good. It is hoping, caring, knowing, and seeing the good. It is demonstrating kindness, patience, and understanding. Friendship is believing that things will get better. Friendship is being there when they don't. Friendship is telling someone they made a mistake, and they keep being your friend. It's being mad at my friend, and the friend still loves me. It's my friend telling me I made a mistake; I get mad, and the friend still loves me. My friend gets mad at me, and I don't give up on being their friend. I give my friend space. My friend gives me space. We expect each other to continue to grow. We love each other when we don't. Friendship is self-control. It is about not taking advantage of the other person. It is mildness in exchange for provocation. It is long-suffering in exchange for impatience. Friendship is trust. Friendship is impossible without truth. It is seeking and sharing truth. It is loving truth and promoting the growth of truth. Friendship is about forgiveness. It is about being wronged and forgiving the debt when I'm wronged. It is the expectation of being forgiven when I'm the wrong doer. Friendship is a feeling of safety with another person. It is seeking and pursuing peace. It is not lashing out in anger when hurt. It is forgiving the hurt when the other has lashed out. Friendship is not about perfection. Friends seek the good of the other person. Friendship is commitment. No matter what, I will be your friend.