BE A FRIEND

IT'S EASY TO TELL WHO YOUR REAL FRIENDS ARE. THEY ARE THE ONES WHO STAB YOU WHILE YOU ARE LOOKING. AS IRON SHARPENS IRON, A FRIEND SHARPENS A FRIEND...

Apart from marriage, friendship is one of life's most lasting and rewarding commitments. It is based on more than one promises. Its deep connectons have to do with mutual respect, common experiences and love. IN our ighly fluid ulture, friendships sometimes fall prey to the countless transitions in our lives. That is when commitment comes into play. And that's why friends are people with whom we dare to be yourself. Your soul can be naked with them. They ask you to put on nothing, only to be what you are. When you are with your friends, you feel like the prisoner fels who has been declared innocent. You do not have to be on your guard. YOu can say what you think as long as you believe in it.

Friends or our friends I say, understand those contradictions in your nature that lead others to misjudge you. With them you breath freely. YOu can be up-front with your little vanities and envies and hates and vicious sparks, with your meanness little streaks of meanness and absurdities.

Our friends are like fire which purges to the bone. They take you wholesale. You can weep with them, sing with them, laugh with them and pray with them. Through it all--- and underneath ---they see, know ad love you. What is a friend then? Just one, be a friend.

I am glad I have friends. They've been with me all these years. We've laughed together, dined, attended mass. No man is designed to be alone. We have to be a friend first before we can have friends.