True friendship involves close relationship with another person or persons. Relationship is the connection between two or more people and the way they regard and behave towards each other. Close friends are often familiar with each other’s personalities, likes and dislikes and have formed a common bond with each other. Quality friendships are difficult to find.
How To Recognise Real Friends
Sharing and Caring
In order for bonds to develop there has to be genuine concern for the other person with a desire to see them succeed and prosper in every area of life. Mutual friends develop a trust for one another sharing their thoughts and ideas without the fear of judgement nor do they crowd each other’s space.
Integrity
A good friend will listen to what you have to say and keep the information you have shared with them to themselves. They will also be of the same character on the inside as what you see on the outside, or are the same person when they are with you and behave accordingly when you’re not around.
Trust & Accountability
True friendship evolves around trust and accountability. We all need someone who we can share our thoughts and frustrations with. Without the fear of rejection. Failing to be a trustworthy person with intimate secrets is a violation and betrayal of trust that can break up a friendship rather quickly. In real friendship there is no, ‘backstabbing’, or talking about the other person behind their back. There is also no slander, putting the other person down or ruining their reputation by talking about the other person to your friends.
Do Something Nice
The other person might go the extra mile doing something nice and by doing that for a person we care about, lets them know that we do care and value their friendship. A good giver doesn’t expect anything in return.
Bring Out The Best In Us
Friends generally bring out the best in us. When we are self-critical good friends will point out our better qualities by being supportive and encouraging.
A good friend will give you the time and the space to be yourself and do the things you love doing without controlling you for fear of losing the friendship. They will allow you to nurture and cultivate friendships with others.
No Demands or Unrealistic Expectations
True friendship means that the other person will accept you as you are. They do not want to change you or make you do things you’re not prepared to do. They will not lead you astray but instead always have your best interests at heart.
Consider the friend to be as close as family
A friend sticks closer than a brother making the friendship a priority. Proverbs 8:24 Friends will pick you up when you are feeling down so you can feel better about yourself.
Support us
Supportive friends are crucial to our social lives. Friends that have our backs, and that we can count on during difficult times, that can be honest when things get tough are truest friends. Christian friends also pray for us.
Sources:
All About God – True Friendship
Huffington post – 11 Signs of Genuine Friendship
Have you thought about becoming a qualified counsellor? It’s a great opportunity to learn how you can extend God's love and grace to the hurting out in the community.
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