The word ‘friendship’ has become very cheap in the modern times. We call everybody who comes into our contact our friend. Mere acquaintances or those with whom we work because of our posting at a certain place cannot be called friends.

Even our neighbors and those whom we frequently meet in our social dealings are not necessarily our friends. Friendship is something noble and great but very rare. A good friend is one of man’s most precious possessions. It is also true that without friends man’s life is dry, dull and dreary. The company of friend’s makes life happy, interesting and worth living.

A true friend understands us, appreciates our circumstances and problems and shares our joys and misfortunes. He is our counsellor and guide. He is a source of joy, strength and courage. He increases our pleasure in prosperity and lessens our sorrows and sufferings in adversity. When we are rich, prosperous and powerful, a flock of people gather around us and claim to be our sincere friends.

The real worth of these people is known when we fall on bad days. Fair-weather friends leave us in the lurch. Those who stand by us through thick and thin are our real friends. A friend in need is a friend indeed.