Friend (*ET voice*)

What does it mean to be a friend?
What exact social contract does one enter into when they decide someone equals "friend"?
Seems like many are confused.

As a friend, you are there for your friends as they go through the trials and tribulations that life delivers.
You are there for them when they make mistakes; and make mistakes they shall for we are all trying to figure out this puzzle that is life.
You're there because you care about their well being.

As a friend, you support your friends and the decisions they make, even if you think the decision is an err.
You grant your friends the liberty to make their own choices,
building them up when they stumble or fall.

And if you cannot, or refuse to do his then I think you are no friend at all.
That's okay, people drift apart, make decisions that we don't agree with,
But we MAY NOT choose for them.
What we may do is choose for ourselves,
"What can I allow in my life?"
"Can I endorse this implicitly or do I need to take a step back?"

Morality is never a black and white issue.
As in all walks of life, we live in shades of grey--
And we stumble, we falter, we fall short and we err...
But we get back up--
Oft with the encouragement and support of our friends, of our loved ones.