“The glory of friendship is not the outstretched hand, nor the kindly smile, nor the joy of companionship; it is the spiritual inspiration that comes to one when he discovers that someone else believes in him and is willing to trust him. - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Horror gripped the heart of the World War I soldier as he saw his lifelong friend fall in battle. Caught in a trench with continuous gunfire whizzing over his head, the soldier asked his lieutenant if he might go out into the no mans land between the trenches to bring his fallen comrade back. You can go, said the lieutenant, but I dont think it will be worth it. Your friend is probably dead and you may throw your life away.
The lieutenants advice didnt matter, and the soldier went anyway. Miraculously he managed to reach his friend, hoist him onto his shoulder and brought him back to their companys trench. As the two of them tumbled together to the bottom of the trench, the officer checked the wounded soldier, and then looked kindly at his friend.
I told you it wouldnt be worth it, he said.
Your friend is dead and you are mortally wounded.
It was worth it, though, sir, said the soldier.
What do you mean; worth it? responded the Lieutenant. Your friend is dead.
Yes, Sir the private answered. But it was worth it because when I got to him, he was still alive and I had the satisfaction of hearing him saying, Bill, I knew youd come. And thats true friendship.
Friendship is a deep relation tied with a particular closeness based on love and sharing of common interest. An African proverb says A friend is a brother that one chose. A friend is a person whom one knows and with whom one has a bond of mutual affection, typically exclusive of sexual or family relations.
Do you have friends like Bill? Or can you be like Bill to your friends? If you dont have friends like that, drop the old ones and go get yourself new ones. If you are not like Bill to your friends, you better change before they drop you and find themselves new friends.
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