How to Be a Good Friend

You never know when someone is going to call on you to be a friend. Many young people find it difficult to find someone in their community that has the same set of values and mind set. It is hard to find true friends who are willing to stick by your side through whatever may come. But those who find these rare individuals are truly blessed.

What is a best friend? Do you have one? Having a best friend is a true gift. Knowing that someone is there for you through thick and thin brings a whole new joy to life. Life for a teenager can be hard and even depressing, but knowing that there is someone there to call on if needed can certainly lighten the load. Today, possessions seem to take over our minds more and more and people tend to lose sight of the value of good, healthy relationships.

In life, we simply don't know whom we are going to encounter in the future or if someone will become a real friend. Even so, we can learn to be good friends ourselves. With that in mind, here are a few suggestions on how to be a good friend.

Be there for them. Listen to them. When friends come for advice or an opinion, we have to give them our full attention by listening carefully. Eye contact helps and turning off any distractions lets them know that you take them seriously. Whether it's giving them a shoulder to cry on or patiently listening, show that you really care.

Be honest. There is nothing more hurtful than lies. We have to earn a friend's trust, and nothing destroys trust more than lies. To be a good friend, be honest. When friends come to you, they should be confident that they are getting genuine, transparent truth. Although we all know the truth can sometimes sting, there is nothing like tactful honesty among friends, motivated by care and concern. Be true to your word and do as you say. This dependability will pay rich rewards in developing a lifelong friend.

Don't exclude. Some of the best times come when we are with a group of friends. We don't always need to have just one best friend. Having 10 or 20 will provide lots of security and comfort. It will also mean that we are more likely to have one around when we need one. Being friendly encourages others to want to be around us. We all need friends, so why not offer to be one for others?

Be understanding. If you are lucky enough to have a friend in the Church nearby, more power to you. Often there isn't another person in your entire school who believes like you do. If your friends have different beliefs, you will need to give each other a little latitude for differences of opinions. The important thing is to show respect to each other.

In today's world there are a lot of traps we must avoid, and sometimes we may be surprised to learn how many other young people are trying to do what is right. If we live what we have been fortunate enough to learn, people will honor and respect us for our values. If we are good friends to others, it is likely that our circle of friends will also grow. As we move through life, let's remember how important good friends are! — Aaron Greider YU ..... www.ucg.org