Friendship
True friendship is never serene. (Marquise de Sevigne, noted 17th century French letter-writer)
Poet Kahil Gibran put it this way, “Friendship is always a sweet responsibility, never an opportunity.” Long-time friends have learned to be honest and candid. They don’t gloss over failures. They suffer with their friends but are careful to offer gentle correction when it’s appropriate. True friends work together lovingly for mutual improvement and benefit.
Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy . . . The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense. (Proverbs 27:6, 9)