To me one of the most touching stories in God’s Word is man’s friendship with man. To me there is no closer friendship between two men than Jonathan and David.
I came across an article in Bits and Pieces written by C. Raymond Beran that pretty much describes true friendship.
What is a friend? Friends are people with whom you dare to be yourself. Your soul can be naked with them. They ask you to put on nothing, only to be what you are. They do not want you to be better or worse. When you are with them, you feel as a prisoner feels who has been declared innocent. You do not have to be on guard. You can say what you think, as long as it is genuinely you. Friends understand those contradictions in your nature that lead others to misjudge you. With them you breathe freely. You can avow your little vanities and envies and hates and vicious sparks, your meanness and absurdities, and in opening them up to friends, they are lost, dissolved on the white ocean of their loyalty. They understand. You do not have to be careful. You can abuse them, neglect them, tolerate them. Best of all, you can keep still with them. It makes no matter. They like you. They are like fire that purges to the bone. They understand. You can weep with them, sing with them, laugh with them, pray with them. Through it all--and underneath-- they see, know and love you. A friend? What is a friend? Just one I repeat, with whom you dare to be yourself.
Thought: A friend is like good health, you don’t fully realize what a gift they are until you lose them.
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