Hallsville, MO

A guide for youth on true friendship

Growing up I had few friends, but those that I counted among my friends were true.

Several of them are still close personal friends today, with a few exceptions. One of my childhood friends has recently gone through an ugly divorce. I tried to be there as much as I could, I invited him over, providing pony rides for his kids, and we had several BBQ's on the deck. More imprortantly I was there!

I was there because for 35 years he was my friend, and because he is a good and decent person.

Friends of youth can be fickle, children often mistake youthfull relationships for friendship. I'm a bit nostelgic I would like to keep all of the people I have considered friends close to my circle.

A few of my friends of youth are still quite close, we may live miles apart but we share so much history that we will always be close. Time spent builds relationships.

Others, like one I have recently reached out to, look at relationships as stepping stones to power, greed and wealth. One high school friend recently refused my invitation on a social network; because; Quote: "I don't see how it can benefit me"!

So chillin's listen up, true friends are there when you need them, they're when you are down, they're when you are up. True friends will be friends for life, not just for today. not just when they need a shoulder but when you need a shouder too.

You will recognize them by their heart, and no matter how much you reach out to old friends, only true, good friends will respond in kind!

Go with your gut, understand that not all "friends" are true friends.

Oddly; my mother warned me that this guy was "no friend" but I held out hope that he was.

Sad; I had always hoped Jon was as true a friend as the rest.