Piggies can be our friends!
During a lifetime, each person will encounter innumerable friends. They will come. They will go. Some will be remembered. Some won’t. Many will be real. Thousands will be virtual. Yet, we call them all friends. There is really no separation. Some we see. Some we don’t. These are our circle of friends.
What makes a person a friend? Can someone be called “friend” yet not truly be a friend, only act friendly? Everyday conversation occurs during which someone will reply, “Oh, he’s my friend!” or “I know her. She is a friend of mine.” Has this happened to you? Have you ever paused in wonder as to what made you identify a person as a friend? Each of us will have different thoughts and answers to that question.
We have work-friends, buddy-friends, intellect-friends, fun-friends, the talker-friend and the listener-friend. There is the big brother or big sister and of course, the friend who is like a mom or dad. Some even earn our trust as we accept them into our hearts without question. Each plays a significant role in life.
Now turn to friendship. Any difference?
Friendship is a form of love, passionate in the sense of caring and understanding but not erotic. It is resting your head on someone’s shoulder and crying out of sheer happiness or sobbing uncontrollably in times of sorrow. It is that person holding you so tight you do not want them to let go for you are no longer capable of separating one person’s tears from the other. It is disagreeing and finding harmony in disagreement. Those are the personal lasting friendships.
Today, with the advancement of social networking, friendship does not get applied to many situations. The friends in this environment are acquaintances that people do not even know and probably will never know. Yet, comfort can still be found, it is simply within written communication, rather than in person.
Each of us can be a friend, associate with friends, and form lasting friendships. Those that last are the ones which we truly celebrate. In other words, a celebration of friendship is when you are not only told you have dirt on your face but your friend helps you clean up your mess! This is our blessing of friendship.
Angel of Friendship
A cloud floats from Heaven
To rest upon a shoulder
A soft, billowing pillow
Where an angel abides
Quietly, gently resting
‘Til needed to leaven
Heaviness like a boulder
Laying worries aside
Who is this angel?
Quintessence of loyalty
Bearer of charity
Who offers companionship…
Listener with quiet understanding,
Sunbeam smiles radiating harmony,
A messenger of amity
Ensuring a lasting relationship
Who is this angel?
This angel is the angel of friendship!
©2004 Echoes
Sharla Lee Shults
catnipoflife 
This resonates with me right now because I learned this past weekend that a long-time friend died suddenly last week. I had spoken with him a month ago, just before he planned to visit a doctor to find out why he had trouble swallowing and was suffering frequent throat pain. He later told me an X-ray showed his esophagus was bent and that his doctor had referred him to a gastroenterologist; the latter wanted to rush him into surgery. My friend indicated that cancer might be his problem. I never heard from him again and then found out – of all places – on Facebook that he had died.
His death came right before the first anniversary of the cancer-related death of another old friend. So this has hit me pretty hard and – as always – puts my own life into perspective.
Thanks for this, Sharla!
Alejandro, do sorry to hear of your loss! Life deals us some hard, unexpected blows! Hope you found solace with my writing:-) Always good to ‘see’ you on catnip!