Someone we trusted betraying us.

And it’s a double wound :

The harm they’ve done and the fact the we thought we could trust them.

True friends, says Oscar Wilde, stab you in the front.

Which reminds me of :

As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.

True friendship is loving.

True loving desires the good of the other.

The issue is :

We all have areas where “The Good” is the last thing on our hearts and minds.

So what does a true friend do ?

Gossip ?

Malign ?

Manipulate ?

Take advantage of ?

No.

A true friend stabs you in the front.

A true friend tells you your weaknesses - loves you enough to do it face to face - and remains with you as you heal and grow.

My closest friends, the ones who I truly know have my back, have stabbed me in the front.

It’s the only way I can truly trust them.

We live in a time of consuming and oppressive compassion - where any flaw is swept away, any rebellion is kept hush hush, and every bit of our selfishness is explained by “understanding our situation”.

True friends, the ones who have your back, who will journey with you, thru hell and high water, desire your best.

Your absolute best.

And because of that, they will do you great harm.

They will be honest with you and call you into your destiny.

They will stab the selfishness, the lust, the hypocrisy, the jealousy, the cynicism right out of you.

Do not settle for anything less.

And do not be any less.

A true friend will always love -

Let me quote from proverbs :

“A true friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity”

Be the friend that loves and ensures thru adversity.

Be the friend that desires the best from everyone around you rather than nonchalant companionship.

Be the friend that stabs others in the front.

And be ready for it yourself.