The Heart of Friendship

Many of our readers know that, in their country, a man and woman often do not know each other until after they are married. But this is also true in America...

It may take years for couples to really know one another. Relationships of any kind, and especially "intimate" relationships, require good communication if they are to flourish.

A funny story has it that a divorce lawyer was contacted by a woman who wanted to hire him to represent her. He wanted to get more information, so he asked her if she had grounds. She said, "Yes, we have about an acre and a half."

"No, you don't understand what I mean," he said. "Do you have a grudge?"
"No," she answered, "but we have a covered driveway that seems to work well."

He forged on. "I'm not talking about your property, ma'am. I'm talking about your marriage. For instance, does your husband beat you up?"

"No. I generally get up before he does," she said.The lawyer replied in frustration, "You don't understand at all what I mean here! I want to find the reason why you came today. WHY do you want a divorce?"

She said, "I DON'T want a divorce! My husband wants the divorce. He says we can't communicate."

All close relationships require good communication. They begin with KNOWING each other -- as fully as possible. Then comes UNDERSTANDING. And from understanding, grows ACCEPTANCE. Finally, from acceptance comes something vital to any significant relationship, including marriage -- FRIENDSHIP.

As someone beautifully wrote:

"A friend is someone who knows you as you are, understands where you've been, accepts who you've become and still gently invites you to grow."

Friends like that are rare, indeed. But it all begins with knowing the other, for at the heart of friendship is communication. And is there anything better than to be truly known, understood and accepted? That time invested in good communication today will pay big dividends in lasting friendship tomorrow.