ARE THEY TRULY YOUR FRIEND? HOW TO TELL?

A few years ago I penned a quote for my FaceBook page that said, “A genuine friend never says, ‘Call me if you need something.’ They simply do it.”

This notion was borne of experiences in my life where certain friends rose to the occasion while others did little to nothing. It changed the way I viewed them and my expectations going forward.

Similarly, a smart article was sent to me to send to you. It intelligently details the differences between true
friends and acquaintances. I suggest that you read it, and when done, use the LIKE/SHARE button or Tella-
Friend form to send it to anyone who needs to read the story as well.

There is a difference between being an acquaintance and being a friend. An acquaintance is someone whose
name you know, who you see every now and then, who you probably have something in common with and who you feel comfortable around.

It’s a person that you can invite to your home and share things with. But they are people who you don’t share
your life with, whose actions sometimes you don’t understand because you don’t know enough about them.

On the other hand, a friend is someone you love. Not that you are “in love” with them, but you care about
them and you think about them when they are not there. The people you are reminded of when you see something they might like, and you know this because you know them so well. They are the people whose pictures you have and whose faces are in your head regardless.

Friends are the people you feel safe around because you know they care about you. They call just to see how
you are doing, because a friend doesn’t need an excuse. They tell you the truth, the first time, and you do the same. You know that if you have a problem, they are there to listen.

Friends are the people who won’t laugh at you or hurt you, and if they do hurt you they try hard to make it up
to you. They are the people you love, regardless of whether you realize it.

Friends are the people you cried with when you got rejected from colleges and during the last song at the
prom and at graduation. They are the people that when you hug them, you don’t think about how long to hug
and who’s going to be the first one to let go.

Maybe they are the people that hold the rings at your wedding, or maybe they are the people who give you
away at your wedding, or maybe they are the people you marry. Maybe they are the people who cry at your
wedding because they are happy or because they are proud.

They are the people who stop you from making mistakes and help you when you do. They are the people
whose hand you can hold, or you can hug or give them a kiss and not have it be awkward because they understand the things you do and they love you for them. They stick with you and stand by you. They hold your hand. They watch you live and you watch them live and you learn from them. Your life is not the same without them.