What is a Friend?

I would like to pose a question...just what is a friend?

I have had this discussion with my wife a number of times. It is clear that the definition hinges around expectations. I mean sure, there are textbook answers, and we will look at a couple. But what is it REALLY?

Here is what you would find at Wikipedia:

Friendship is a term used to denote co-operative and supportive behavior between two or more beings. This article focuses on the notion specific to interpersonal relationships. In this sense, the term connotes a relationship which involves mutual knowledge, esteem, and affection along with a degree of rendering service to friends in times of need or crisis. Friends will welcome each other's company and exhibit loyalty towards each other, often to the point of altruism. Their tastes will usually be similar and may converge, and they will share enjoyable activities. They will also engage in mutually helping behavior, such as exchange of advice and the sharing of hardship. A friend is someone who may often demonstrate reciprocating and reflective behaviors. Yet for many, friendship is nothing more than the trust that someone or something will not harm them. Value that is found in friendships is often the result of a friend demonstrating the following on a consistent basis:

• the tendency to desire what is best for the other,
• sympathy and empathy,
• honesty, perhaps in situations where it may be difficult for others to speak the truth, especially in terms of pointing out the perceived faults of one's counterpart
• mutual understanding

Here is what you would find at Dictionary.com:

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

friend Audio Help /frɛnd/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[frend] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation

–noun

1.a person attached to another by feelings of affection or personal regard.

2.a person who gives assistance; patron; supporter: friends of the Boston Symphony.

3.a person who is on good terms with another; a person who is not hostile: Who goes there? Friend or foe?

4.a member of the same nation, party, etc.

5.(initial capital letter) a member of the Religious Society of Friends; a Quaker. –verb (used with object)

6.Rare. to befriend. —Idiom

7.make friends with, to enter into friendly relations with; become a friend to.

Now that we have gotten past the formal stuff...what do you find in real life? What is a friend? Post your response below by making a comment. I will take those responses and share my thoughts next week.