A TRUE FRIEND

 

Most of us make the mistake of categorizing all those we are acquainted with as friends. We all claim to have friends but how many of them are true friends?  

After discussing with some intellectuals I had around me, I came up with some qualities I believe someone you call a true friend should have:

• True friends are those that will not see something wrong in your life and keep quiet about it. 
• True friends are those that really care about you. 
• True friends are those that will see something that could help you and not keep it to themselves. 
• True friends are those that will not see danger/a problem ahead of you and keep quiet about it. 
• True friends are those that are not intimidated by your success or advancement and will even do all in their power to contribute to it.  
• A true friend is one that can be there for you in your time of need even if it is inconvenient. 
• A true friend is one you can call on in times of emergency and one that will respond and rise to do all he/she can to help. 
• One that has your best interest at heart. 
• One that can tell you hard truths that others will not tell you. 
• One that is sensitive to how you feel and cares enough apologize when they hurt you. 
• One that can stand up to fight for you if need be. 
• One that will help protect your image and reputation before others (and when you're truly at fault, apologize on your behalf and come back to tell you the wrong you did)
• One that remembers you when he/she sees an opportunity or gets a blessing (an important information, AOC in school, job opportunity, even free food etc)
• One that stands with you in both good and bad times. 
• One that prays for you. 
• One that can sacrifice for you 

Usually, it is in times of need that you will know a true friend. In most cases, we actually did not loose friends, we only discovered who the true ones were.

Learning this then made me wonder, 'Is true friendship spontaneous and unplanned or is it something that must be intentionally orchestrated?'

In my opinion, you cannot enter this level of friendship without being intentional. I believe although it might have a spontaneous start, sustaining true friendship must be an intentional act. Even if it is spontaneous initially (or when God blesses you with spontaneous ones) you must then be intentional about it. 

Until you transit from spontaneity/automaticity to intentionality, friendship cannot grow beyond a certain limit. 

So, on the basis of these things, how many people can you call your true friends?

It will be a tragedy living your whole life thinking you had friends only to discover in your old age that that you only had acquaintances and not true friends. 

However before you start looking for a true friend, a question I'll like to ask you is 'Are you also a true friend or have you been a true friend to someone?' Can those who you call your friends call you a true friend? That's a food for thought. 

Proverbs 18:24 (KJV)

A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

On a final note, I'll like to encourage you to do as much good as you can and support other in their journey to success. You might not become close friends with the multitude of people you meet but you can do your best to create a good impression (by doing as much good as you can to them). This way, you will have many wonderful relationships with countless people (and you never know which will bless you in the future)

I do pray that God blesses you with true friends. 

Please do well to comment on who you think a true friend is and feel free to ask your questions in the comment box. 

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Changing the world starts with being a blessing first to one man. If this article blessed you, I'm glad I contributed to changing the world. 🌎