friendship

I have heard people say �Well a friend to me is ��, and they continue on with whatever they think their friends should be. I find it interesting to hear people across the board saying very similar things. �They should be trustworthy and nice�. I can definitely agree with that I guess. But what if they are in a bad mood or depressed or angry about something do they still have to be nice? �They should be there when I need them�. Again a very valid point, but what if what you want them to back you up on they just simply cant. Maybe they don�t agree with you on something. What then? �They should love me for who I am�. This would most likely be up the on the list around number 1 or two I would guess. But what if there is something that is you that shouldn�t be. Like maybe your doing something that could ultimately be self destructive. Should they point it out or just let you go through with it and except that as part of you? Its easy to blurt out things about a friend should be this or a friend should be that. But when it comes down to it there are a lot of questions that go into it.
Heck to start with how do you choose a friend. I mean we all admit we can be slightly picky with our friends. I mean I would care to wager a couple weeks checks that the wino down the street isn�t counted among your friends. I guess it would come down to whether you are the close friends kind of person or not. I mean there are those that think that they have lots of friend but only a few close friends. Me personally I don�t do that. I have friends and I have people I know. See for me to be counted amongst my friends is to be like family and that�s that. I don�t separate them into groups. If you get closer than a friend with me your most likely called and introduced as brother and sister. Its just how I work. I don�t except self-destructive behavior (which unfortunately I believe has lost me a very dear friend recently).
I don�t back people blindly even my dearest of friends. At best I can pray that God�s will be done with whatever it is but I cant just say �yeah I�m there for you�. Especially if I really don�t agree with it. Like I have a friend that believes in a woman�s right to choose. Which to me is the murder of innocents. I cant back that. I wont even talk about that with that person simply because that�s something that we agree to disagree on.
I accept people how they are with the understanding that life is change. So therefore, I accept that they will change over time, as will I. But because we are friends we will change together and we will help induce that change on occasion. Especially when its for the better. I simply have to believe that. We help each other in fellowship. Whether it be Christian or not, its how God designed us. We are social creatures. There are those of us that walk through life avoiding all contact with others. Those people I truly pity. I have to believe those people are truly tortured. Because no one is so introverted that they have need of no one. There are those that would like to think so but I bet if they took a step back and examined there life they would truly realize just how unhappy they are.
Galatians 6:2 says � Carry each others burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ�. I take that to heart in a big way. God made us social creatures who go through life seeking the friendship of others. And while this can lead to a great deal of pain and emotional heart ache it is one of the greatest gifts God has given us. Whether you split them up into categories or just simply thank God that you have them they are your friends. They are there through thick and thin, for richer or poor. Kinda like being married. God gave us friends so we could have a physical shoulder to lean on through this walk we call life. Like the Family Circus Cartoon said one Sunday �our hands are the only ones God has to hug with�

Course that�s just my opinion I could be wrong. But I pray to God I�m not.