I CALL VERY FEW PEOPLE FRIENDS.

When I first came to this country, there were several social behaviour I had problem adjusting to. I will give you two examples - One is smiling and saying hello to everyone I pass on the street (the only people I knew who would smile and greet people they don't know the whole day long were people with Psychological problem. ) another one was when people I barely know calling me or introduce me as friend - this is way before II knew about Facebook " friends." The last one, I am still not used to it yet. Maybe it was because of the culture I was raised in or maybe it is because of my own personality but I still have problem referring to people I don't know well , acquaintances, coworkers and neighbors as 'friends.'  For me friends are closer than associates. I value both, but friendship is more intimate than associations.

I call very few people "friends."  However, we make up in intensity what we lack in number.  We would do things for each other  without expectation of any repayment. If one of us is about to do something wrong or about to compromise her/his moral, the other will try to help him/her to understand what is right. It is the same as the saying  “friends don’t let friends drink and drive.” We will do anything to protect them from hurting herself/himself even if doing so might cost us the friendship.  

We know each others weakness as well as strengths and, yet, we don't use that knowledge to hurt each other. We know each others family. We are entitled to call each other by our nicknames. We respect each other. We treat each other as equal. We love each other and are willing to do almost anything for each other as long as it is not immoral or illegal.

Value that is found in friendships is often the result of a friend demonstrating the following on a consistent basis:

• Respect , equality and  love
• The tendency to desire what is best for the other
• Sympathy and empathy
• Honesty, truth and loyalty, perhaps in situations where it may be difficult for others to speak the truth, especially in terms of pointing out the perceived faults of one's counterpart
• Mutual understanding and compassion
• Trust in one another (able to express feelings - including in relation to the other's actions - without the fear of being judged); able to go to each other for emotional support. , 
• Positive reciprocity - a relationship is based on equal give and take between the two parties Friendship

Here is a story of true friendship I have heard of.  I don't know who the author is or if the story is true or not but it expresses friendship in its true form. Enjoy.

Once up on a time, thre were two boys (Asfaw and Dagne) who had grown up together and become very close friends. After awhile, they moved far apart ― Asfaw stayed in his own province, while the Dagne went to live in another province.  Yet they remained very close friends.

One time, Asfaw who stayed in his provice went to visit Dagne  and while he was there someone falsely accused him of being a spy. So they brought him to the Prince, and he was sentenced to death.

As Asfaw was being led out to be executed, they asked if he had any last requests. "Please, let me go back home to settle my affairs and say goodbye to my family. Then I'll come back and you can execute me."

The Prince laughed. "Are you crazy? What guarantee do I have that you'll come back?"

The boy said, "I have a friend called Dagne, who lives in this province who will stand in for me. He'll be my guarantor. If I don't come back, you can kill him instead."

The Prince was intrigued. "This I've got to see. Okay, bring your friend."

The Dagne was called in. Sure enough, he agreed to take his friend's place in prison, and be killed instead if Asfaw did not return.

The Prince was so startled by this arrangement that he agreed to let the 90 days.  If you're not back by the dawn of the 60th day, your friend is dead."

Asfaw raced back to say goodbye to his family and friends and put his affairs in order. After a hectic time and a lot of tears, he started back in plenty of time before the 90 days were up. But  in those  days,  traveling was  difficult and unpredictable. As luck would have it, there were so many complications and he was delayed, and by the time he arrived it was the dawn of the  90th day was breaking.

As agreed, the jailers took Dagne out for execution.

In those days, an execution was a public affair. Early in the morning the crowds began to gather. Finally, as they  about to execute Dagne, Asfaw  came running in. "Wait! I'm back. Don't kill him!"Then Dagne protested  "You can't kill him. He came too late. I'm the guarantor. You've got to kill me instead!"

Each friend was equally adamant. "Kill me!" "No, kill me instead!" The executioner didn't know what to do. The crowd was in an uproar!

Finally, the Prince was called. In wonder and amazement, he turned to the two of them and said, "I'll let both of you go free on one condition. That you make me your third friend!"