The Four Degrees Of Friendship

While in one of many deep conversations with an "intimate" friend of mine the subject of friends came up and she took me on a journey I'd never considered when it comes to "friends".

Frist let us consider that "friends" can be divided into four categories.
(1) Acquaintances: people you know but your
conversations are limited to the weather.
Nothing personal, only generalities. These
"friends" can be anybody.
(2) Associates: People you may spend some
time with but you don't make it a habit
of being together too often. Conversa-
tions are limited but they donot go past
weather conditions, not much personal
information only what is generally
known. Warning these are friends that
you want to be careful with because
they don't always have your best in-
terest at heart. These can be coworkers,
relatives but not just anybody.

(3) Close Friends: People who know you
on a personal level. They know your
family, they know you. You can count
on these friends through thick and
thin. You share just about anything
with them. They know your shortcomings and
love you anyway. Most spouses are close
friends.Close friends are personal.You
have alot in common ...you enjoy each
other's company; you can laugh and cry
together and have. This can be a tricky
friendship due to the fact that close friends
often feel  they have the right to
judge you or even make decisions for you
without your consent. Usually we call these
best  friends.

(4) Intimate friends: These are people who know
you even more than close friends. These
friends are connnected to you in a special
way. First let's get a clear understanding
of intimate. You are associated in close
personal relations mentally but
not physically...there's nothing
phyical about the relationship
other than it is unconditional.
Intimate friends understand you on a level
that not any of your other friends can
understand. You are so closely connected
that one feels what the other feels,
you see the world with the same vison.
They know you TRULY...there are no
limits with these friends. These are
friends who at no cost will ever di-
vulge any of your personal information,
they will and can tell you about your
shortcomings and never be judgemental.
They only and always have your best interest
at heart.This friendship is priceless. There aren't
 many on this list. Actually this list is very short.
* Just because this is an intimate relation-
ship it does not automatically place your
spouse in this category.*

Finally, now that we have some insight on friendships we can reevaluate the "friends" in our lives. Some may have moved to a more trusted degree
of a friend, some to a lesser degree or not even considered at all. Therefore we should always be mindful when using the words "my friend". Of course there is One other friendship not mentioned above and that's because this relationship cannot fit on this list ....it is in a category all it's own. A relationship with Jesus Christ.