What is friendship?

Worldly love, whether it be platonic through friendships, intimate through romance, or even the relationship between a parent and child - none of it makes any sense to me whatsoever. The relationship and love to and from God is pure though - it's unconditional. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 speaks about the right kind of love, and that's the kind God has for us. Unfortunately, many of us don't feel the same way towards Him, and most all of us fall very short from being able to do it with our fellow humans.

Digital_Monk said:

Worldly love, whether it be platonic through friendships, intimate through romance, or even the relationship between a parent and child - none of it makes any sense to me whatsoever. The relationship an love to and from God is pure though - it's unconditional. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 speaks about the right kind of love, and that's the kind God has for us. Unfortunately, many of us don't feel the same way towards Him, and most all of us fall very short from being able to do it with our fellow humans.

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For some reason, maybe because I'm not feeling well tonight, or your words just strike something in me...Idk...but, I'm teary eyed reading this. It's quite beautiful, this post.

I think friendship is a relatively disposable relationship. Family matters much more, it is not disposable. Family is heritage, which is permanent. Friendship is a casual affectionate relationship. I would prefer to keep friendships, but it's not the end of the world to lose one.

I've thought since I was a young child that relationships are temporary fixtures. Even familial relationships don't last forever. People die; people move; people lose touch; people become estranged. I think that because I feel so little attachment to my fellow humans - that's why I feel so close to God. He's loved me since before I was born and will love me long after I die. No matter what I do, or say, or feel, or think...He's never going to stop loving me. Even if He needs to teach me a stern lesson, He'll only do so out of love to bring me back to Him.

It sucks sometimes to not have friends to do things with or to talk with, but when I remember that I am never truly alone, it brings a lot of comfort in the lonely times and in the darkness.

Iron Wizard said:

I think friendship is a relatively disposable relationship. Family matters much more, it is not disposable. Family is heritage, which is permanent. Friendship is a casual affectionate relationship. I would prefer to keep friendships, but it's not the end of the world to lose one.

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This is interesting. I had someone tell me recently, their take on friendship. That it isn't the same thing to everyone, all at once. That some are friends with people for money, for success, for power, etc. I said, that's not a friendship. And the person said...'to you, it's not.'

So, maybe it's erroneous to expect everyone to think like me. What? lol

Deidre said:

Like, how do you personally define it? How do you decide if a friendship is worth keeping or not? Have you ever severed a friendship, and why? Are you a good friend to others?

Just wondering....

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Friendship a bond that I find hard to describe (and impossible to define) but I know is among the most important things in this life. I openly and gratefully love these people. One of them is a dog.

Sometimes I'm not a perfect friend but I try.

Deidre said:

Like, how do you personally define it? How do you decide if a friendship is worth keeping or not? Have you ever severed a friendship, and why? Are you a good friend to others?

Just wondering....

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If a person calls me to move and I say yes because it will be fun or I feel really bad because I can't make it, then they are a friend. If I cancel a previous engagement to help them move, then they are a best friend.