Genuine friends listen thoughtfully to our sorrows, laugh with us and celebrate our joy and victories as though they were their own.
True friendship is far more than regular association and cordial behavior.
Once established, neither poverty, wealth, honest human failings nor distance can sever the bonds of true affection and mutual support . . . A true friend patiently accepts our imperfections, ever ready to offer encouragement and hope during hard times. For such friendships to endure the test of time, vigilance, empathetic awareness and nurturing skills must be constantly employed. True friends overlook the imperfections in our communications skills, our sour moods or our quoting of scripture or silence, when that is all we can offer. Too often, friendship is taken for granted, confidences are betrayed, and gossip or complaining begins to fray the fabric of once healthy relationships.