How many true friends do you have?

Five, two, one, none? For a lot of people, the answer is none. Just this last week, I was struggling with an issue I wasn't sure how to handle. My friend knew it and reached out to me to have coffee. He didn't solve my problem, but talking to him took the weight of the matter off of my shoulders. What I'm certain of is that I will fairly shortly move on from the crisis I was facing, but I will never forget the phone call and the feeling of closeness that was generated by true friendship. These types of friendships only develop through honesty, openness, and a lack of defensiveness. They demand a willingness to be vulnerable and trusting. That can be really hard unless you set out to make friends with such depth. It takes time and is a two-way street, but the rewards last a lifetime. This is Dr. Scott Morris for Church Health.