Once you have decided to be friends with someone, decide to be loyal, sincere, dedicate your time to that person, be honest, generous, understanding, and patient, give without expecting anything in return, forget their weaknesses, correct their flaws with love.
By Fr. Dennis Doren, LC
True friends are light and sparkle in our journey. Having true friends brings countless blessings and joys into your life. That’s why today I invite you to cherish your friends, value their presence, seek their advice, remember and greet them on their birthday, and let them continue to be part of your projects and happiness. Today’s world needs to regain trust in people. A good friend is a treasure; they will listen to you, understand you, and give you good advice. They will be a good guide in moments of darkness and confusion.
Friendship is a very great responsibility, with it at stake is the life, health, and happiness of others. Once you have decided to be friends with someone, decide to be loyal, sincere, dedicate your time to that person, be honest, generous, understanding, and patient, give without expecting anything in return, forget their weaknesses, correct their flaws with love. These are some of the virtues and attitudes that accompany true friendship. I hope others consider you a good friend.
A while ago, while I was at home around 11:00 at night, I received a phone call from a very good friend of mine. I was very happy to hear from him, and the first thing he asked was: How are you? And without knowing why, I replied: “completely alone”.
Do you want to talk? I replied yes, and he asked: Should I come to your house? And I said yes. He hung up, and in less than fifteen minutes, he was knocking on my door.
I started talking and I talked for hours and hours, about everything, my work, my family, my projects, my debts, and he attentively listened to me. It became daytime, I was completely mentally exhausted, his company had done me a lot of good, especially that he listened, supported me, and helped me see my mistakes. I felt very comfortable, and when he noticed I was feeling better, he said: well, I’ll leave now, I have to go to work.
I was surprised and said: but why didn’t you tell me you had to go to work? Look at the time, you didn’t sleep at all, I took up your whole night. He smiled and said: No problem, that’s what friends are for. I felt happier and prouder to have a friend like him.
I accompanied him to the door of my house… and as he was walking toward his car, I shouted from afar: Hey friend, by the way, why did you call so late last night? He turned back and told me softly: It’s because I wanted to give you some news… and I asked: What happened? And he said… I went to the doctor, and he told me my days are numbered. I have a brain tumor, it can’t be operated on, and I just have to wait… I was speechless… he smiled at me and said: Have a good day, friend… and turned around and left…
A good while passed before I processed the situation and asked myself again and again, why when he asked me how I was, I forgot about him and only talked about myself? How did he have the strength to smile at me, encourage me, tell me everything he told me while he was in that situation?… This is incredible. Since then, my life has changed. I tend to be more critical of my problems and enjoy more the good things in life. Now I make better use of my time with the people I love. For example, he is still alive, and I try to enjoy more the time we spend together and talk. I still enjoy his jokes, his craziness, his seriousness, his wisdom, his composure, my friend.
There is no greater wealth than a sure good friend. Let us always be loyal friends, which implies being a person of your word, faithfully responding to the commitments that friendship entails; noble friends do not criticize, murmur, or betray a personal confidence, and truthfulness is always found in their words. True friends defend the interests and good name of their friends. I leave you these reflections so that we may be true friends forever and always.
