Closer than a Brother

Are you willing to be friends when it's not fun? Are you willing to do friendship even when it's hard or inconvienient? Can you be friends with someone when they need you for more than a good laugh or familiar conversation? Can you be a friend when someone needs you to encourage them in their situation? Can you be friends with someone after they have held you accountable for your actions? Can you be friends when your friend tells you the truth about yourself? Can you be a true friend when your friend's flaws are exposed? Can you really be a friend? These are the questions I ask myself when I consider someone as a friend. Proverbs 18:24 says "There are 'friends' who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother." Which type of friend am I?

I feel like "friend" is a word that is used entirely too loosely. I have always been picky about the people that I choose to call friends. Sometimes I feel like I can be too picky, but once I read Proverbs 18:24 I realized that friendship really should not be taken lightly. To have a good friend is a gift, and to be a great friend is commendable. I have a few friends in my life who have proven themselves as great friends. My great friends recognize when my laugh is covering the pain, and they pray for me when I am not smart enough to hang up the phone and pray for myself. My great friends never make me apologize for who I am, but they still hold me accountable to the morals that I claim. My great friends also know that any expectation I have of them, I am willing to do myself.

What does it really mean to be closer than a brother? I truly think it means to be dependable. When I think of my family, I always think that it's a no matter what situation. No matter if I am mad at my sister or not, at the the end of the day she's still my sister. This means if she needs me, I am there. This means no matter what the situation is that made us ill with each, we must find a way to forgive and move on. Yes, I am aware of her flaws, but I still have to love her and push her to be better. I really think that's how friendship should work. A lot of times, I think people feel like a friend is not blood. Since they aren't blood, there is no need to invest anything in them if they do something we don't like or if they require too much of our time. Being closer than a brother seems like it means going that extra mile for people you call a true friend. Is it always easy? No....but it's love. I feel like that's mainly what Proverbs 18:24 is saying. A friend loves you like kin. When friendship is thought of in that sense, is it a word that we should really throw around?