Writing today on the topic of “friendship”, a five minute writing prompt, hosted by thegypsymama.com. Rules: write for 5 minutes, no editing.

GO

I love to be myself, to be real, and it is freeing to be around people that like me as I am. There is nothing like sharing a good laugh or a cry with a friend. Isn’t it a great feeling? Do you have someone who really knows you? I have a couple of friends who know me, fairly well, though not perfectly. 🙂 And it’s wonderful, because you know what? They like me anyway!

I’ve been in the place without friends. When we first moved to our current city, I knew absolutely no one except my husband. It was a lonely time. It took years before I actually made friends, and honestly, I prayed often for friendships. Finally, God answered the prayer! If you are in this place right now, keep praying and seeking opportunities. I often had to the first person to take the initiative. Not easy for me, who is often quiet in new situations.

On friendship, I admit I have much to learn. I am a work in progress, as are the rest of us, and I hope others see me this way, as I see them, and offer grace to one another.

One of the obstacles in friendship, at least for me, is my own self. My own issues, insecurities, etc., may often get in the way. I suspect it is true of us all. A good friend can recognize that in me and share in love, and accept the same truth from me.

We meet so many different people, but only a few select few can be our closest, intimate friends. It takes time to invest in relationship, and do it consistently, faithfully, and deliberately, which means that we cannot have everyone as our close friend.

I feel fortunate at this point in my life to have a few close friends. As the circle widens, the numbers grow. My list of acquaintances is much larger than the list of few intimate friends. And I’m OK with that!

STOP

I spent a few more minutes (not as part of the five minute prompt) looking up some quotes on friendship. Here they are, I hope you enjoy reading and reflecting what others have written about friendship:

Be courteous to all, but intimate with few, and let those few be well tried before you give them your confidence.
George Washington

It is one of the blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

The bird a nest, the spider a web, man friendship.
William Blake

The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing… not healing, not curing… that is a friend who cares.
Henri Nouwen

If instead of a gem, or even a flower, we should cast the gift of a loving thought into the heart of a friend, that would be giving as the angels give.
George MacDonald

I have friends in overalls whose friendship I would not swap for the favor of the kings of the world.
Thomas A. Edison

Friendship needs no words – it is solitude delivered from the anguish of loneliness.
Dag Hammarskjold

But friendship is precious, not only in the shade, but in the sunshine of life, and thanks to a benevolent arrangement the greater part of life is sunshine.
Thomas Jefferson

The language of friendship is not words but meanings.
Henry David Thoreau

The most I can do for my friend is simply be his friend.
Henry David Thoreau

The only way to have a friend is to be one.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

The real test of friendship is: can you literally do nothing with the other person? Can you enjoy those moments of life that are utterly simple?
Eugene Kennedy

A friend loves at all times.  Proverbs 17:17

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