Do Your Friends Have These Characteristics? Do You?
“A true friend knows your weaknesses but shows you your strengths; feels your fears but fortifies your faith; sees your anxieties but frees your spirit; recognizes your disabilities but emphasizes your possibilities.” ~William Arthur Ward
Are you blessed with good friends?
People who believe in you, encourage you, and point you toward hope when you don’t have any of your own?
Are you a good friend?
Do Your Friends Have These Characteristics? Do You? 10 Ways to Know…
1. Loves and cares about you.
Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. 1 John 4:11
2. Listens to you.
“Friends are those rare people who ask how we are, and then wait to hear the answer.” ~Ed Cunningham
3. Tells the truth and is trustworthy.
“When you choose your friends, don’t be short-changed by choosing personality over character.” ~ W. Somerset Maugham
4. Compliments you but doesn’t flatter.
5 Differences Between Flattery and Encouragement.
5. Gives you personal space.
“Balanced relationships are always based in freedom, not obligation.” ~Michael Thomas Sunnarborg
6. Forgives you.
Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends. Proverbs 17:9
7. Appreciates you and tells you so.
Want Happy Strong Relationships? Say Thank You!
8. Is real and accepts the real you.
“A friend is someone who knows all about you and still loves you.” ~Elbert Hubbard
9. Celebrates and cries with you.
Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. Romans 12:15
10. Respects you.
“Life has taught me that respect, caring and love must be shared, for it’s only through sharing that friendships are born.” ~Donna A Favors
More Friendship Quotes
“The glory of friendship is not the outstretched hand, not the kindly smile, nor the joy of companionship; it is the spiritual inspiration that comes to one when you discover that someone else believes in you and is willing to trust you with a friendship.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Friendship is the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person, having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words.” ~George Eliot
“Friends—they’re kind to each other’s hopes. They cherish each other.” ~Author Unknown
“When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives means the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand.” ~Henri Nouwen
“You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” ~Jim Rohn
“I cannot even imagine where I would be today were it not for that handful of friends who have given me a heart full of joy. Let’s face it, friends make life a lot more fun.” ~Charles Swindoll
Good friends make you laugh, make you smile, and just make life more fun!
Thank you for being my Friend!
Yes, Deb, I am blessed to have friends who are like a mirror to me, and like iron sharpening iron — particularly my good husband. Thank you for your wise words today, and for your hospitality each week.
Thanks for coming over and joining the party Michele. My husband is my best friend too. What a huge blessing! Enjoy a wonderful weekend.
Did you do something to your hair? 🙂
You’ve been busy working on a new look. I like it!
Your comment made me laugh Christi. I did change my hair. I’ve cut off the color and gone to its natural salt and pepper color. I’ve colored my hair for a loooong time. It’s too soon for a pic, because it’s shorter than I like it. Hopefully by fall I’ll have a new pic up.
Thanks for your kind words about CMB’s new look. It needed an update and I love playing with the design. Thanks for your encouragement!
Hello Deb,
Firstly, thanks for featuring me today. I am very grateful.
I like the list of friendship characteristics you shared. I also checked within me to see if I have been a good friend to those around me.
Thanks for the link up too.
Finally, God Bless and have a splendid weekend
You’re very welcome Ifeoma. I loved your post. May you be blessed with the fullness of His joy. Hugs!
Oh my gosh, Deb, my post today was about my BFF! I love when this happens! Blessings.
I do too Mary! I look forward to heading over to read it! Blessings and hugs!
Truly, there is nothing like a good friend. i actually wrote about an iron sharpening friend recently on (in)courage. They can be tools to draw us closer to the Lord, as my friend was, or further away from the Almighty. Kind of like the combo of five mentioned by Jim Rohn. This is a sweet post, Deb, one I’ll likely show our children. Have a sweet weekend.
Thanks Kristi. I just added that Jim Rohn quote before the post published this morning. My daughter shared it with me recently and it’s given me lots to consider. I always encouraged my children to love and be a friend to everyone, but to invest wisely when it comes to the people with whom they choose to spend the most time. Praying your weekend is full of His blessings!
Great quotes on friendship and your list of characteristics is spot on. I have several friends that exhibit these characteristics and whom I trust with everything. I count myself as very blessed. Thank you for the linkup. I have the old button but I will grab the new one for next time. Happy weekend!
Thanks Mary! Great friends are a grace-filled blessing from the Lord. Love having you join the link party. Happy weekend to you too!
Barbie and I are blessed that you are part of The Weekend Brew community.
That list of 10 qualities has me thinking about how good of a friend I am. Lord, use me to bless others.
Good list. I like the Sommerset Maugham quote about choosing character over personality. That is so thought-provoking.
Thanks for featuring me Deb. I appreciate it. (My name is BeTSy, not BeCKy. no worries, it’s a common mistake. I’ll answer to Betty or Becky!)
I’m so sorry Betsy. I knew that. I had Becky in the paragraph above and my mind and my fingers didn’t keep up with each other. Thanks for letting me know. I have it corrected now!
I so appreciate your site and your kindness. The first thing I thought is that friends need to get each other’s names right. I hope to be a good friend to you in the future. God bless your weekend!
No problem at all, Sweet Deb. Like I said, I’m used to it. And answer to Betty and Becky as well as Betsy. 🙂 I do appreciate you, Deb. Have a great weekend.
Thanks for being my friend, too, Deb! 🙂
These quotes regarding friendship were so uplifting to read today. Thank you!
What a wonderful list of qualities to have in a friend and I love all the friendship quotes! Thanks for sharing, and for hosting. Hope you have a lovely weekend 🙂
What a great post on friendship Deb. I loved the quote about being the average of the five people I spend the most time with. I hope to be that as I have some really awesome friends!
Blessings to you this week dear friend.
Patti
What a great post, Deb! I love your list, and used it to grow myself and in my friendships. I desire to be a friend who does all those things. Thank you! And thank you for hosting the link up too. It’s always a blessing to be a part of what you are doing over here. Have a beautiful weekend!
I had a week where friendship was tested, Deb, and I had to make a choice. I was reminded of the verse that says a friend loves at all times. I was reminded that grace has been given on purpose, not for me to hold on to but give away. I was reminded to take the first step, and felt the reward of that obedience. I am inspires by your worsa and the outcome of His grace moment to be a better friend.
Thank you!
♡Dawn
I loooove this post Deb; wonderful truth about the value of true friendship. It is so easy to have many friend acquaintances, but much more complicated to have a true friend who stands up to the qualifications you have described here. Love, and so blessed to have people I can call my friends!!! ღ Beautiful quotes too!!!!
Blessings for a beautiful and joyful week!
Denise ღ
Deb,
You’ve listed some great qualities to look for in friends. I’m blessed with a few good friends. My prayer is that I’m a good friend in return!
Blessings!
Kim
I am VERY picky with my friends, I am one of those people who only needs a few GOOD friends over lots of acquaintances. I love the quotes and now I need to call my friend from afar for a good chat 😉 Thanks for the inspiration! Thanks for linking up at Favorite things Friday! Make sure to add a link back or button to be eligible to be featured! Hope to see you again this week!
Deb, may I count you among my blessings? You celebrate LIFE and friends and joy and blessings…& that is indeed a blessing. Thank you for joining the dance each week. Your words M ATTER.
Hugs, Susan
Thank you so much for sharing my words! It is so encouraging to know that someone found something in them. Blessings upon blessings friend!