Wednesday 19 November 2008

A Sacred Bond

“Some people go to priests; others to poetry; I to my friends.” These words of Virginia Woolf are a pointing reminder of the importance of friendship in our lives.

I spent the afternoon with my 'best friend' from my high school days. We hadn't seen each other since 2002, but it seemed like only yesterday.
There were no awkward moments, just laughter and filling in the gaps of those years, with the sad events and the happy ones.

When we think of our friends we immediately think of those people who have been constantly present in our lives, those who have been a stellar support to us in happy times and times of crisis. Perhaps it is not always easy to define friendship. It isn’t built on a list of expectations as is the case with other relationships. But then perhaps it is this freedom, this unspoken tenderness, this amalgamation of faith, trust, support and other beautiful aspects that make it such a sacred bond.

Any person who has ever enjoyed a wonderful bond of friendship will understand the importance of being there for the friend. Life is a continuous learning experience and along the way every person encounters happy moments and trying times. What one needs during the happy times as well as the painful ones is constant support and a true friend knows this only too well. Sometimes it is not always possible to be there for your friend in person but modern technology has allowed people to connect in spite of geographical distances.

Perhaps it is only in friendship that people are capable of giving unconditional acceptance and love to another individual and this is the hallmark of true friendship. It means friends allow each other to be human and commit mistakes and learn from the mistakes. It also means that friends love each other in spite of the mistakes. This acceptance and love also means that friends talk to each other if they have any issues between them and that they treat each other with respect, dignity and kindness. They also give each other the benefit of doubt and try to understand the other person’s perspective.

True friendship also means that our friends encourage us to reach and perform according to our potential and do not transgress our boundaries. In a healthy friendship bond you should never be forced by any of your friends to do anything that you are not comfortable doing. There is genuine concern for the emotional, physical and spiritual well being of each other in this beautiful relationship.

Some of my favourite Friendship quotes.

“Friendship is the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person, having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words."
- George Elliot

"Friendship with oneself is all-important because without it one cannot be friends with anyone else in the world."
- Eleanor Roosevelt

"Grief can take care of itself, but to get the full value of joy you must have somebody to divide it with."
- Mark Twain

"With every friend I love who has been taken into the brown bosom of the earth a part of me has been buried there; but their contribution to my being of happiness, strength and understanding remains to sustain me in an altered world."
- Helen Keller

"What is a friend? A single soul in two bodies."
- Aristotle

"In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends."
- Martin Luther King Jr.

Carole King, Celine Dion, Gloria Estefan & Shania Twain - You've Got A Friend

16 comments:

Ron Simpson said...

I love the independence of friendship .. I remember when my daughters were younger .. They could only have one BEST FRIEND .. No one else could enter that sanctum .. and they would change from time to time .. and they would cry over some of them ..

As I grew older I found the friendship operate independently of our ideas of what they should be .. True friendships operate outside of what is going on in our lives .. They operate beyond distance .. They operate above noise and clamour ..

I have friendships .. some old .. some new .. they are there when I am right .. they are there when I am wrong ..

Even when the years have divided the contacts, they are still fresh as new when we meet ..

There is nothing in this world quite like a friendship.

Thank for reminding me of things I almost always knew ..

Ron Simpson said...

ps ..

I didnt write about the whispering Giants (yet) .. but I did write something after reading your post today ..

check it out

Anonymous said...

I truly enjoyed reading this today. I have many different types of friendships, but the ones I cherish most are created between myself and my daughter, my three sisters, and my two brothers. Along with my dad,three nephews and five nieces.

Wow! I'm truly blessed in the friendship area. ☺

A New Reader

Anonymous said...

This struck a chord with me.....I have just opened a letter from a college friend of mine from the 1970s.A group of us have kept in touch from the time when, in our first year, in a strange town, we were all lodged together in digs which left quite a lot to be desired!From that 'hardship' (well -it seemed dire to us as 18 year olds!) we stuck together and have seen partnerships turn into marriages, off-spring grow to adulthood, illness, successes and failures and deaths of parents.CJ

Anonymous said...

Hi there! Another interesting post (and I love your new banner).

For consistently interesting posts, you've now been tagged AND nominated (see my blog!)

Meow said...

Aah, this comes at such a relevant time when today I look back at some very cherished times in an alien land where few angels I call as my friends, helped me steer through the tough journey & are still very much there, ready to offer hep & support..

God Bless our friends!!

Anonymous said...

I too have a best friend that I rarely get to see but love her as if I spend every day with her. I have a small handful of really good friends like this. I am so glad you got to spend some time with yours. It does a soul good! Carol King is my favorite and that song is wonderful. I mention you often in my conversation with my husband and other friends. I already feel as though you are my good friend.

carrhop said...

You're right--we are on the same wavelength!

I too am blessed to have a best friend and although we have lived in different parts of the country for many years, when we are able to see each other, we just pick right up!

Blessings!

Caroline said...

My friend Mary is my anchor! I have know her since 8th grade. We live in different states...but when we see each other, it's so natural. There is no "work" or drama between us. We know each others secrets and have a bond that is so special. I do believe that a best friend is a soul mate. This post really makes me appreciate that. I think I will her a call :)

Jan said...

I love your thoughts and writings. They are actually quite a gift to me. Thank you so much for the friendship quotes - one of these days, I just might make a SB friendship card using one of the quotes, if that's ok with you. Hope you're doing well!

Sherer said...

Excellent quotes - a very insightful and deep post indeed. And I love the music that's a great touch i'll be back.

Sherer

Jennifer Chronicles (jenx67.com) said...

I liked the quote from Eleanor. It is important to be a friend to one's self - something it's taken me so long to learn.

Monica said...

My favorite friends are the ones I can be myself around. That means if I didn't feel like fixing my hair or putting makeup on they don't care or notice.

Friends, I don't know how I could ever get by without them!

MrsPeel said...

so true, all this thoughts.
and I better than none can say that a friend can make all the difference when you are in the good as in the bad times.
and I bless Scrapblog for having delivered you into our lives, as we count you as a very good friend now :)
Was gonna write to say: I met Rachel in the supermarket this week :)
will write later to tell you about it, she is great! :)
I need sleep now, already 5:18 am!!!!
Huggzzz

Roban said...

I count my sister as my closest friend. She has known and loved me longer and more than anyone! My mom was a true friend also, so I definitely miss her.

I've heard a saying or story about how friends enter your life for different reasons and seasons. Some stay forever, while some are just there for a while.

I enjoyed reading your post and am glad you had a chance to catch up with your friend.

Enjoy your day...
Roban

Anonymous said...

Awww. Old friends are the best kind!