Real Friends

I have been greatly blessed in my life to have friends, both old and new, that support me and help me to be a better person. Some of my closest friends have been by my side for as long as I can remember, but time isn't the only thing that bonds two people together.  In life we stumble across people with whom we seem to make an instant connection.  So how are meaningful friendships formed and how do some last a lifetime while others die off seemingly before they start?

I believe that the answer is something quite simple.  If we look to our own lives and think of our best friends we are sure to find the answer.  Real friends are just that... real.  There is no need to act, pretend, or impress each other as there is a deep mutual understanding of one another.  Unlike some who are willing to hang out when things are easy, fun, and convenient, real friends are more than happy to stay around when things get rough, bad, and ugly.  They want the best for you and will support you in your good and wholesome desires.  They will recognize when you are being fake or phony and will call you out on it.  You are able to be real with one another and talk about anything under the sun.  Discussions are had about the deep and meaningful things of life.  Time passes quickly when these talks are had and one shares part of his/her soul with the other.

If we want to develop deep and meaningful friendships with people, we first should become real friends ourselves.  Only then will we be able to have real, deep, and sincere relationships with the people around us.  These friendships refresh and enrich our lives and can last an eternity.  Unforgettable memories will be lived, deep conversations had, spiritual moments shared, and unbreakable bonds formed.

I will be forever grateful for the friends that I have made that have helped me become the person that I am today.

September 26, 2012 (Airport)
My buddies drove from as far as 4 1/2 hours to surprise me at the airport the day I got home from my LDS mission and returned the same night to make it back in time for their classes they had the next day.




  





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