What Are Friends For?

Did you know that people use the word ‘Friend’ so common and conventionally until it has lost some of its significance and true meaning?

Friend- a person who you like and enjoy being with; a person who helps or supports someone or something, such as a cause or charity; someone who is on your side; a person whom one knows, likes, and trusts; an acquaintance; a person whom one is an ally in a struggle or a cause; a comrade.

Hmmm, so, basically instead of a friend, they can be considered an acquaintance?

On the other hand - a Best Friend is a person's closest friend. A person for which you have an even stronger liking and trust. And contrary to popular belief, your best friend doesn't have to be someone of the same sex. A best friend also doesn't have to be with you 24/7 or think and act just like you. Truly, a best friend can be the exact opposite of you. This CAN lead to fights and difficulties getting along, but somehow you still just love them to death anyway. 

Your best friend... is the one person who could not speak to you for any amount of time but you still think of them just the same. Someone who, despite all the changes a person goes through in their life will stick by you and always accept you for who you are. A person who will always tell you what you NEED to hear, even if it’s not necessarily what you WANT to hear. A person who can make you laugh even on your bad days, and who makes all the problems in life seem easy to overcome, as long as you have them by your side. A best friend can be many things, your inspiration, your hero; best friends help each other to become better people by using honest, constructive criticism that sometimes hurts to hear, but is all for the best in the end. Best friends are the ones that bring up touchy topics with you, even if it will risk you being angry w/ them because they care more about your well-being. Your best friend is the one who you could tick-off so badly, but in your time of need, they'll will still be there for you. A best friend is someone who you have shared good AND bad memories with, but you just can't help but cherish each of them.

A TRUE best friend is hard to come by, difficult to leave, and impossible to forget.

I used to gripe about

My very best friend

And didn’t realize

My distinction she depended

Thought she was a mimic

Thought she was a mime

Didn’t put it together, then

What she needed was my time

I was that distinguishing part

Representative of her deficiency

Believe it or not, I gave her hope

Added flavor, imparting proficiency

She wouldn’t let on, though

How important to her I was

And wouldn’t give me the benefit

Of bestowing unequivocal love

I began to doubt our friendship

Had qualms about the treatment

I was receiving all but kinship

My importance, I wasn’t believing

So…I became defensive

I began to question the commitment

Was what we had all these years

fake…only a figment?

Later I found a deeper sense

As we went through some things

Some folks just can’t accept their flaws

No matter the pain it brings

See, my friend is one side of me

And I am who she admired

Didn’t really see the big picture then

Time apart was what was required

The frustrations we went thru

Were really admirations

If we had let all the trivial things go

We could accept self-gratification

I love and respect my best friend

Trials bring out the best in us all

It has taught us lessons no book can teach

God first and seek “His” higher call

That’s what Friends are for…

copyright 2015 PJ Payne