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Turning the Hearts...Friends

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Turning the Hearts...Friends

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On reflection of the event, I realized that I related to most of them because of situational friendships. In fact, I have not kept regular contact with any of them over the years. Many of us have situational friends—the kind of friends we have because of various life events. Some have sports friends who enjoy a good game together. Others have intellectual friends who enjoy talking about news or serious topics. But how many of us have true friends? Teaching our children how to pick friends is important. A friend is a person whom one knows well and is fond of, someone who is a close acquaintance or an ally. We enjoy our friends and are happy to engage them. There are, of course, pseudo-friends or "fair weather" friends. They are the type of people who are around when things are going well for you and them, but depart when you are not doing so well. They can be fickle and inconsistent. We all appreciate people who lift us up and respect us. We want friends who try to encourage and cheer us up. True friends give support and care and are loyal and safe to be with. "True friends visit us in prosperity only when invited, but in adversity they come without invitation," wrote the ancient Greek philosopher Theophrastus. Children often attach to individuals with whom they share time and space. This includes classmates whom they sit beside in class or at lunch. If your children engage in athletics at school, they will spend time with other athletes and will tend to "hang out" with them. While these situations usually contribute to friendships, it is important to remember to teach your children what to look for in true friends. Here are some important qualities you need to look for in friends: Compatibility: They "click" with you. Loyalty: They will be there through good and bad times. Values: They share similar moral values in life. Goals: They pursue worthwhile goals. Giving: They follow the "give" not the "get" approach to life. Sharing: They want friends who share what's going on in their lives, as you do with them. Caring: They care about you and show it by the little things they do. Forgiveness: They forgive when you slip and err. These characteristics listed are considered very important for a friendship to thrive. Remember to pray for the wisdom to guide your children to have the kinds of friendships that will help them and their friends to enjoy life. Encourage them to ask God to give them true friends. "A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity" (Proverbs 17:17). UN