According to an article in an recent magazine, “A true friend is one
who has the courage to disagree with us when [we are] in the wrong, and
advise us for our own good, rather than let his sympathy or sentimentality
cause him to agree.” Spurgeon once said, “Friendship is one of the sweetest
joys of life. Many might have failed beneath the bitterness of their trail had
they not found a friend.” Dr. Alfred Adler, internationally known psychiatrist,
based the following conclusions on a careful analysis of thousands of clients:
“The most important task imposed by religion has always been ‘Love thy
neighbour.’ It is the individual who is not interested in his fellow man that has
the greatest difficulties in life and provides the greatest injury on others.
It is from among such individuals that all human failures spring.”
It may not be the best but it is true that we can live without romantic love,
but we cannot live healthy without at least one loving friend. As Dinah Craik so
eloquently said, “Oh, the comfort, the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with
a person, having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words, but pouring them
all out, just as they are, chaff and grain together, certain that a faithful hand
will take and sift them, keep what is worth keeping, and with a breath of kindness
blow the rest away.” And, oh, the priceless value of having at least one such
deep abiding friendship. Thank God for the gift of friendship.
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