Outpourings: The Virtue of Friendship

There seems to be a common thread running through my week so far.

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That thread is friendship.  My pastor spoke on Sunday about David and Jonathan's friendship; and in the past week I have been blessed beyond belief by my closest friends, near and far.  Do you have friends who warm your soul and give you glimpses of heaven?  

Today, seek out a way (or a few ways) to bless your friends.  It could be an encouraging email (or--gasp!--snail mail), a home-made gift, sharing the poem below, or perhaps a phone call.  Friendships are so easy to be taken for granted, and I pray we cherish them!

Here is a poem from Bennett's The Book of Virtues.  It is so sweet and describes perfectly the many ingredients that form friendship:

Friendship

"Friendship needs no studied phrases,

Polished face, or winning wiles;

Friendship deals no lavish praises,

Friendship dons no surface smiles.

Friendship follows Nature's diction,

Shuns the blandishments of art,

Boldly severs truth from fiction,

Speaks the language of the heart.

Friendship favors no condition,

Scorns a narrow-minded creed,

Lovingly fulfills its mission,

Be it words or be it deed.

Friendship cheers the faint and weary,

Makes the timid spirit brave,

Warns the erring, light the dreary,

Smooths the passage to the grave.

Friendship--pure, unselfish friendship,

All through life's allotted span,

Nurtures, strengthens, widens, lengthens,

Man's relationship with man." (page 284)

What will do you to bless your friend(s) today?  What is your favorite part of your friendship?