Rich says

Friends are people that are acquainted with each other and enjoy each other’s companionship in a warm and sometimes affectionate way. Everybody longs for who you can share your heart with and not be condemned.

As it is popularly said friendships make the world go round.

Friends are brought together based on similar values and for different purposes.

The key to friendship is MOTIVE by this I mean why are you in that relationship? Is it for what you can get from the other person or the advantage the person provides? Or do you seek to add value to someone’s life?

Getting into any friendship for selfish reasons creates a wrong foundation which is bound to crumble and leave the individuals disappointed when the friendship is tested.

We all know that there are different levels of friendship. From casual friends to deeper friends, leading to intimate friendship e .t .c. Communication skills will help you navigate through the various levels of friendship.

I remember when I met my wife, we were not in love neither were we friends with each other but I could see we had common values and I was attracted to her physically. By the way she is still as beautiful and charming as she was when I first met her so within a week of meeting her I proposed to her. We were not friends then but over time we got closer, built genuine friendship amidst trials and challenges. Now we are best of friends and she is my best friend  forever.

When we met for the purpose of getting married, she was not perfect and is still not perfect. Along the relationship I saw her flaws and she saw mine but we maintained a friendly approach while we grew the relationship to what it is now.

Yes Friendship at whatever level would be tested. How is it tested? When we run into challenges or trials and need help. Would you stand by your friend? Encourage and support him or her when they are in trouble? Also when we are blessed and are in a position to help people we are also tested. To start with when you share with your friend good news about progress in your life and the person is jealous, that is not a genuine friend.

A genuine friend should be happy and excited for you when you progress and also should stand by you in times of trouble.

For singles, you should be looking out for a friend or at least someone with common values you can grow a relationship with.

For those already married, develop genuine friendship with your spouse and keep growing the relationship till you become best of friends.

Genuine friendships enjoy happy companionship, healthy support, protection, recreation and counsel.

Though the wounds inflicted by a friend run deep the healthy counsel and companionship of a genuine friend is priceless.

Remember to have friends, you have to make yourself available and be open to help people with a pure motive. He that would have friends must show himself friendly.

TASK

Our closest neighbour is our SPOUSE are you loving your spouse( neighbour) as yourself ?