Throughout our lives, we look for friendship. We need someone that we can laugh, cry, or joke around with at any time. We need that kind of support in a peer, and expect it of someone we love. Either way, a friend is a source of understanding and love.

“When we turn to one another for counsel, we reduce the number of our enemies”(Gibran). That phrase by Kahlil Gibran is a perfect reason to have a friend, or to be a friend. I remember a time when I was so mad at this girl in grade school for “stealing” my boyfriend. I bad-mouthed her for weeks on end. I was having a really bad day, and by lunch time, I was in the bathroom in tears. She came in, looked at me, and did something amazing. She walked over, hugged me, and said “I’ll listen”. I cried and told her everything. She told me she understood, let me cry some more, and hugged me once more. She then said that her (my!) boyfriend broke up with her for someone else, and she started crying. I told her I knew exactly how she felt! From that day on, we have been great friends, and it all started with tears, hugs, understanding, and love.

Love is the most important element in a solid friendship. A perfect example was my mom and her best friend, Sharon. They met when they were eight years old, and have only been a phone call away whenever either one needed anything. In September, Sharon, her husband Tim, and their two daughters, Jessica and Christina, were killed in a horrible plane crash. It was so hard for mom. At one point she said “Sharon was a sister to me. Whenever something bad happened, Sharon was there, with love and support, and she helped me to get through it. It is so hard now, because I need her help, and she isn’t here.” I believe, however, mom realized that Sharon is with her more now than ever, still giving her love and support.

Friendship is part of life. You can not run from it, true friendship never fades. We all thrive on it, and need it to stay sane. We need that kind of support in a peer, and expect it of someone we love. Either way, a friend is a source of understanding and love, and that is something special.