Recently I noticed my friend, DiVoran posting daily friendship tips on Facebook. I told her how much I enjoyed them and she emailed her tips to me. I have been tweeting them periodically and because they speak to the heart I decided to post them as a column on friendship.This is also a tribute to my mother, my dear, dear friend. She went to sing in heaven eleven years ago today.
Genuine Friendship: the rarest of precious jewels
Friendship starts with admiration, respect, and having something in common.
Friends can complain to each other and talk things over, but the friendship can last only as long as both know God is the one with the power to help.
Friends don’t pretend to know everything, even if they do.
Friends speak as kindly and diplomatically as possible, remembering what Mother said, “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.”
Friends remember that a pint of example is worth more than a gallon of talk.
Friends toss the conversational ball back and forth.
Friends let many harmless mistakes go. Most mistakes are harmless.
Friends hardly even notice if someone offends them, if they notice, they try not to dwell on it.
Friends forgive, no matter what.
Friends always have time for each other but are careful not to take up all of each other’s time.
Friends answer the telephone in a welcoming way, they call back when you leave a message, and they answer your emails.
Friends listen with their hearts and gently speak back to check out what they believe they heard.
Friends don’t alarm each other.
Friends try to stay as positive as possible at all times.
Friends brainstorm together not shooting ideas down, but putting them in the stew to simmer.
Friends co-operate and help each other not too much, but just enough.
Friends can share their good news with each other.
Friends don’t gossip about each other, or anyone else if they can help it.
Friends are gently and diplomatically honest with each other about how they feel.
Friends remember that others are vulnerable.
Friends don’t try to fix or change each other.
Friends know that others have feelings and try not to trample on them
Friends ask, they don’t demand.
Friends laugh together and pray for each other.
Friends are interested in what’s going on in each other’s lives without being nosy.
Friends become lovely not because of physical attributes, but because they are friends.
Friends never underestimate the value of encouragement toward each other.
Friends aren’t friends because of what they do for each other, but because of the ways they listen and speak.
Friendship means being able to say, “I can’t,” or “I don’t want to,” without fear of rejection or repercussion.
Ephesians 4:32 Be ye kind one to another, tender, loving, forgiving each other.
Friends don’t make derogatory personal remarks to each other, even in jest.
Friends, by their graciousness, make you feel at home.
Friends say each other’s names.
Friends say, I hear what you are saying and I validate it.
Friendship nourishes our souls in the same way that good food nourishes our bodies.
Friends can have different dreams and goals and still support each other.
We are free to have as many friendships or as few as we want to.
DiVoran has been a life-long friend of the heart. She has been my teacher, mentor and best of all friend.
Old Things R New 