The Value of Friendship Friendship means companionship. Much of the zeal in life comes from the joy of having friends and sharing work or play with them. Friends who can share all of one's life are rare, but each person may have friends who share a part in some phase of one's experience or activities making the fellowship a rich pleasure. No one who is a true friend wants to betray or disappoint that friend. "A faithful friend is a strong defense, and he that hath found such an one hath found a treasure." A faithful friend is the medicine of life. True friendship changes the center of life from self to others. No one can give friendship to others yet think only of oneself. Neither can one receive love from others in worthy fashion if the center of ones thoughts is of themself. An acquaintance becomes a burden when love and unselfishness are not mutual. If you wish to have friends, you must be a friend worth having, learning to respect their personality and allowing your friend to be themself. True friendship draws each friend nearer Christ. He who is the great Friend must have a share in every friendship. If there is no room for Christ in that friendship, something is radically wrong. Who is my friend? I will tell you. The one who accepts the best in me and allows the sacredness of my personality, and I permit my friend to be themself knowing that his or her rights and privileges are as valuable to them as mine are to me. Rita J. Stemmerman 12/02/2000