Friendship Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Friendship - Essay Example It could be shared experiences – so, two mothers meet at an antenatal clinic. Both are pregnant, both have a toddler running around and craving attention. They look at each other and smile and a conversation begins. Next week there they are again and so it goes on. It could be a shared interest or hobby. A group is formed to create a community garden. They discuss things together, make plans, and work together. Then someone suggests a meal, or invites everyone to their home for a Christmas drink. The conversation turns to non-gardening subjects and again friendships already begun become more established. It can be an alliance in shared difficulties. Two little boys fight in the playground. They are taken to the head teacher’s office where both are disciplined. One finds himself defending the other: ‘It wasn’t really his fault.’ Once outside the office, grins are exchanged and two former enemies become allies against authority. It can be based upon a need to rely on each other as in two comrades fighting alongside each other, and depending upon teamwork for their survival. Some friendships are based on less than perfect motives. I think of two little girls being put next to each other in class. One has a pencil case full of sparkly pens, comical erasers and even a packet of sweets. The girl next to her suddenly decides to become friends. A poor reason to start a friendship, perhaps, but soon they really do become bosom friends. According to Kelly (n.d.), who is writing from a Christian point of view, true friendship can be identified by three aspects - it is morally helpful to both parties; there is a genuine basis of agreement between the parties and, thirdly, their mutual love is characterized by a spirit of self-sacrifice. He was speaking specifically about relationships between people of opposite sexes, but the principles hold for other types of friendships.