what is a true friend?

I've asked myself this question numerous times and pondered many answers.

Is a true friend...
- the person you talk to daily?
- the person you hang out with all the time?
- the person you tell everything to and they keep all your secrets?

I think a true friend can be all of those, but at the same time it can be someone totally different. I have been challenged with the title of a true friend throughout the years of my life. I've had people I thought to be true friends but then stabbed me in the back, but I have had a few true friends in my life also. At moments I have believed no one is a true friend because every human being can hurt you or disappoint you, but if I believe that then I will never be happy with my group of friends and will never keep people in my life for a long period of time.

"Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their work:

If one falls down,
his friend can help him up.
But pity the man who falls
and has no one to help him up!

Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?

Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken."

Eccl 4:9-12 New International Version

God did not create us to be alone, he created us to minister to each other, support each other and help each other grow. This is one thing I have learned through situations in my life.

I will give an example without using names:

I have this friend, and this friend was out at a party with a bunch of friends. I was having a bad night so I thought I would text this friend because this [friend] always seems to be able to cheer me up. I asked this friend to come online if [friend] wasn't busy so we could talk. This friend did not reply but showed up on facebook in less then 5 minutes. I asked this friend what this friend was doing because I wanted to make sure [friend] wasn't busy, well, this friend told me that there was a party going on that [friend] was at. I continued to ask this friend why [friend] came online because I had said only if [friend] was not busy. [Friend] told me that [friend] didn't want me upset and wanted to cheer me up.

Now this friend has become one of my best friends, but also shows the qualities of a true friend. You don't see many people now a days while out with friends or doing whatever, drop everything and make sure their friends are okay. I don't know if its our society or what. I have a few very close friends and those people are true friends to me. To me a true friend isn't someone you have to see every day or every week, its not someone you have to talk to every day, and it is not someone you have to share every secret with. It is someone who cares unconditionally, is willing to be there when you ask, and likes you for who you are. Most of my true friends I don't see every day, some I only see once a year, yes I talk to them often but I don't need to. I love them for who they are and they love me for who I am.

Find the friends you never want to lose, and hold onto them, because some people are worth keeping around.

14 days...

14 days... till the best week of my year. Nanoose Bay Camp!

This camp has changed me so much over the past 2 years. I have made friends that I didn't think were possible to make, I've done things I have never thought I would do (like play handball), and I have been tugged at by God like I never have before. Camp is home, weird to say but it is. My team - da bears, are my family, and the people at camp are also like family.

I walk onto those grounds, and I breath deep and say I am home. In 2 weeks I will be home for the best week ever. A week full of sports, friendships and memories. Although this week of being home that is just around the corner holds a special meaning. I will be getting rebaptized most likely. Something God has been wanting me to do, but also that has been on my heart for a long time. I will not explain it all on here, but I got baptized the first time for the wrong reasons, for selfish reasons and not for God. I lived a life of fakeness and put on a huge mask on who I really was. Life is full of mistakes, I know that from personal expierence but this week of being home I plan to show God I am willing to live for him and not put on the mask I wear way to often.

So in 2 weeks I will be home, I will be with the best friends I could imagine having, and I will expierence some of the best memories I will ever have. I can't wait to go home.. :)