My fellow Belizeans, let us start with one quick question: “WHAT IS FRIENDSHIP?” Well friendship consists of true friends that can make you laugh when the skies are the darkest, true friends that will hurt you only if it is for your own good, friends that will protect you under any circumstances, friends with whom you feel comfortable sharing your thoughts and feelings, and lastly friends who will love you unconditionally, understand you but never judge you, and will listen to your problems and give you advice when you can’t find it in your own heart.
A friend is like a gift that you give yourself. Friends are those people with whom you do not have any blood relation, instead its a relation of love and affection towards each other. Remember, God gave us our relatives, but thank the Lord we can choose our friends!
Furthermore, a true friend is one who will always be there when you need someone. He will leave all his important duties but will never leave you alone especially in your difficult times. That is why a friend in need is a friend indeed. Difficult times are the best times to realize who your true friends are. Blessed are those who have true friends. It doesn’t matter how many friends you have, what matters is how many true friends you have.
Moreover, friends show us how to live life in a different way; they are the ones who can change our view points. A person does not grow without a friend. A friend is necessary to understand life. Until now we have been looking at life the way our family wanted us to see, it is only when we see the world with the eyes of a friend that our view point changes.
Have you ever noticed that when a friend is happy you find yourself happy too, even if it has nothing to do with you? A true friend is like a mirror. Do you want to know why? It is because they reflect yourself; meaning emotionally, spiritually etc. Our thoughts and feelings are affected by the place we live in, and with other people we live with. That is why it is advised to be careful when choosing who your friends are. Choose someone with good thoughts and character. Be friends with someone who makes you feel free, positive and alive.
In addition, marriages these days only last for a couple of months. In order for a successful marriage, a couple should be best of friends. Husband and wife should understand each other the way true friends understand each other. They should have love and understanding, trust and respect for each other.
Many songs and stories have been written on the importance of friendship including the bible which was the first book to talk about friendship namely in the book of Proverbs 27:17, it says: “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another”. Friendship breaks the ice between two unknown people; if the other person is friendlier then a person feels comfortable and easily opens up. Even a tiny drop of friendship can do wonders in any relationship such as the relationship of a couple, parents and child, student and teacher etc.
Unfortunately, people living in this modern era of technology have lost sight of what a true friendship is. Friends do not have to be exactly the same. Friends do have similarities but they also have differences. The key to opening up a world of friendship is not just to focus on similarity but to accept each other’s faults since true friends love each other unconditionally. They do have moments of disagreements from time to time but at the end of the day all is forgiven and forgotten.
Lastly, true friends are rare to find, but once you have them don’t let them go as even the most famous or popular don’t have true friends. I hope you got a glimpse of how friendships should be.
