Importance Of Friendship

A friendship is created by two or more people who share their life with each other. It is a God-given gift that must be cherished all our life.

According to Webster's dictionary, a friend is someone who is attached to another by respect or affection. In my own definition,  he is a person whom we can lean  on in good times and in bad times.

Based on the article of Fr. Ruben Villote in a journal, there are different levels that we can reach in making friends. First is the growth for own benefits.  In this level, we choose a friend whom we can get along with, because of things that is missing on us that they can fulfill. For instance, you are such a person who is not serious with studies, while your friend has your opposite trait, being with him will help you to change and be as what your friend is. From this example, we can define a friend as a supporter. The change of someone from being happy-go-lucky into a serious person is not easy, but with a friend, we can.  Another is the growth for each other. In this point, both are the contributor and the receiver. We do not only consider the things that we can have from them, but we also have to think of what we can give to them. If I, for example has a talent on singing while my friend is on dancing, we can share these talents to each other. In a friendship, it is better if you let anyone to enter the bonding made by both of you. Always remember that a friendship in a unique blend of feeling. It includes being unselfish and loyal. A person who is allied is another way of describing a friend. Growth for a reason, as one level of friendship, wants to imply that there must have a unity among friends for a goal. In fact, it helps the bonding to become stronger. Finally, it is the growth together with God. He is the best friend we can ever have. When all things have gone: He stays and comfort us.

According to the book, which is entitled "Friendship Factor" by Alan Loy Meginis, there are several ways to develop , our state of being friendly with others and make friendship grow stronger. One of those is through communication. Friend must always have an open communication with each other to help them know more of each other. The next one is transparency -- in literal meaning it is a slide that can be projected on a screen.  However, if we go to a deeper definition of transparency, when it comes to friendship, it means of being true to each other, or taking off the mask of one another to see what is his true color. The true essence of friendship is also proven through acceptance. Saying words, such as "I love you", "I miss you", and "Thank you" is a way of showing love to a friend.Last is providing little space for the friendship. We must understand that everything has its limitations. Sometimes, we have to be alone, because there are things that we can decide by our own.