Who are Your Friends?

Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.
– John 15:13, NASB

People can so easily give out of their surplus, out of the things they don’t really need.  But who could give even out of their pain?  Who could be there for us even when it would no longer be comfortable for them to do so? Only true friends can do that.

“A friend is someone who is there for you when he’d rather be anywhere else.”
– Len Wein

LETTER TO JOYCE

Life is like walking on waves, where wind is blowing so heav(i)ly and at this time one is crying and needs help. There are so many things which (hurt) us and are made by people who are close to us. I wonder, what is a friend? Whom to trust in life?

From Clementina

RESPONSE FROM JOYCE:

Dear Clementina,

It is really hard when we don’t know who our true friends are. There are people we may meet everyday, but that doesn’t mean they are already our true friends. That doesn’t mean we could already reveal our hearts to them, knowing they will take care of our feelings.

Blessed indeed are those people who have found true friends. They have found people who could be like a family to them when they’re away from home. They have found those who will look after their best interests and support them even when it’s no longer convenient or easy to do so.

Clementina, if you do not see any true friend surrounding you today, maybe you can look up old friends, people you have known in previous years who have proven their sincerity to you. Try to arrange for a reunion when you can meet them again and reminisce the old times together.

If that is not possible for now, maybe you could try to look for new ones. Who knows? There may be others around you who are lonely right now and who needs a true friend, too. You could be the answer to their prayers.

Initially, you must have the patience to know these people so you’d know whom to trust. It takes time. It also takes situations where people can prove that they are true. But don’t give up. Even when you haven’t found them yet, know that there is One True Friend in Heaven who loves you and cares for you. I don’t know if we have the same faith, but I would like to believe that we could both believe in a Higher Power who can see us, who is good, and who can be trusted, even when everybody else would let us down. Be blessed!

With Love,
Joyce

A Poem On Friendship

I may not always be by your side,
but my prayers will be with you.
I may not always help you,
but deep inside you know I want to.
I may not always do what you like,
but I will do the best I can.
I may not always understand,
but we can still walk hand in hand.
I may not be the perfect friend,
I may not be the best out there,
but in spite and despite all these,
you can be sure somebody cares!

Related Articles on Friendship:

Do You Have True Friends?
A Prayer for My Dear Friend
Visiting Old Friends
Are You Enjoying the Company of Friends?

Check Jocelyn's books:

"Of Waves and Butterflies: Poems on Grief", "Mend My Broken Heart", "Questions to God", "To Love an Invisible God", "Defending My Catholic Faith", and more - click here.

(You may freely quote excerpts from this website as long as due credit is given to author Jocelyn Soriano and the website itakeoffthemask.com)