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I think a
good "healthy" friendship is marked by two qualities:
balance and unselfishness.
Balance: Balance
means that there is a mutual respect for each others' time
and attention. You don't do everything together but have other
areas of interest in your life. You can lean on each other
for support but don't rely on each other to exist.
Unselfish
Good friends are those who care for each other and attend
to the needs of the other. They reach out to each other, are
not jealous or possessive, and consider each others' needs.
A good friend is honest and speaks the truth in love. This
means that he or she tells you something for your benefit,
even when it isn't easy to hear, and says it in love. A good
friend doesn't gossip behind your back and is not superficial,
but instead is real with you (does not put on a "show").
A good friend is faithful.
An unhealthy
friendship is one where there is an imbalance in effort. A
bad friend, for example, is selfish and self-centered and
only looks out for his own interests. He or she is dishonest,
and brings the other down instead of leading him or her to
do things that are good and edifying. A bad friend doesn't
think about the other person's welfare or consequences.
The best way
to ensure that you are in healthy friendship is to first be
a good friend yourself. Proverbs 18:24 "A man who has
friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who
sticks closer then a brother." (Jesus).
P.S. Don't
be pressured into saying or doing anything you're not comfortable
with.
 Self-disclosure
is part of a good friendship, but a friend needs to be sensitive
toward you and respect your comfort level. |
