WANA: We may not have it all together, but together we have it all.
Those we love don’t have to be exactly like us. Friendship isn’t about whom you have known the longest . . . It’s about those who came and never left your side.
One of the lessons that’s really been brought home to me by my contacts with other writers through social media is that I can form valued friendships with people who are not like me. My readers know that my Christianity is extremely important to me, yet one of the tweeps I value the most is Jewish. We have agreed to disagree and go on being friends anyhow.
Although I don’t speak out on politics much, my positions are firmly established and rooted in decades of studying and observing, and they are very important to me also. However, I have many tweeps and blog subscribers whose profile statements show them to be my polar opposites. That doesn’t keep us from being friends.
Friendship is not necessarily based upon mutual agreement, although it can be. More important than that is the recognition of the innate worth of the other person. You are absolutely unique in all the universe. There is no one else like you. That alone draws me to you and makes me value you.
The last part of the statement under the photos is that friendship is about those who came and never left your side. Yes, and the best way you can assure that is to be sure you never leave their sides.
If I enter into a friendship seeking what you can do for me, it will be a very shallow relationship, and before long you will begin to see through me and recognize that I’m just trying to take advantage of you. On the other hand, if I enter in a friendship seeking what I can do for you, you will come to appreciate me more and more as time goes by.
David N. Walker is a Christian father and grandfather, a grounded pilot and a near-scratch golfer who had to give up the game because of shoulder problems. A graduate of Duke University, he spent 42 years as a health insurance agent. Most of that career was spent in Texas, but for a few years he traveled many other states. He started writing about 20 years ago, and has six unpublished novels to use as primers on how NOT to write fiction. He is currently putting the finishing touches on his non-fiction Web Wisdom: Godly Inspiration from the Inbox and starting his new fiction work—a series of novellas set during the period from 1860 to 1880—using methods he and @KristenLambTX developed when they cofounded Warrior Writers Boot Camp.
Contact me at davwalktx@yahoo.com or tweet me at @davidnwalkertx
David N Walker 
That is the essence of friendship, David…giving to one another, choosing love and loyalty over rivalry or differing viewpoints. You are the epitome of a good friend and I’m so happy to have gotten to know.
By the way, if you make it to upstate NY one day to see Renee, I hope you’ll stop by to see me, too!
Love the way the deer lies down to be on the cat’s level…so sweet. Thanks, David!
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What a sweet comment, Marcia. I’ll have to remember you’re in upstate NY. For some reason (don’t hit me) I thought you were in California.
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That’s so beautiful David! Love the pictures and the sentiments. If more people in this world could only agree to disagree peacefully and just love one another, it’d be a lot better planet to live on. 🙂
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Thanks, Ingrid. You’re part of the solution.
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Thank you for a wonderful post! I love this. Giving is the essence of life and differences make the world beautiful. It’s all about giving, not expecting or getting.
Thank you so much!
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Thanks, Karlene. In the brief time I’ve known you, I’ve come to realize that’s how you live your life.
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Wow. Some of your sentiments belong in a quotation book (do those still exist given the internet?).
I once read a study that people have an even higher tendency to befriend those like them (and/or with similar views) on social media. What do you think of that anecdotal thought?
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Leanne, I think you’ve found an unfortunate truth their. I think birds of feather do tend to flock together, but think how much we miss if we exclude those different from ourselves.
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Lovely post and so true! A servant’s heart is critical to forging real, lasting friendship. Thanks for being my BFF!
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Thanks, Kristen. One of the things that’s always drawn me to you is that you put the servant’s heart into practice in your books and your blogging and other undertakings.
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I totally agree. I never look for what people can do for me. All I look for is that connection, loyalty, and friendship.
A totally lovely post, David xx
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Thanks, Donna. I suspect the servant’s heart resides in you.
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Not always a good thing, David. It also means I’m a bit of a push-over 🙂
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I’d rather be a pushover than be too hardened to care, Donna.
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I think it’s wonderful how so many people can connect like this who are so different, and religion isn’t always the thing that makes us different. I’m Christian too (Roman Catholic) but the funny thing is I am most influenced by the gatherings I go to with my Mennonite friend. Not that she would ever convert me, but they do some fun things and then listen to readings from the bible. My church doesn’t do that. Take care!
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Thanks, Catherine. We could all learn from Mennonites’ work ethics, too.
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Beautiful and honest words, David. I have a lot of friends who practice different religions, traditions and their political views are on the opposite side of the spectrum than mine, but that has never stopped us from loving and appreciating each other.
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Angela, I suspect you draw friends like honey draws flies. People just gravitate toward you.
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Once I quit grinning about your using the deer and cat picture, you little cat lover you, and read your blog, I grinned some more. Love it, of course! See you later, Alligator! By the way, do you know what you call an alligator wearing a vest? He’s an in-vestigator, Silly!
Barb
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Thanks for the new knowledge about alligators. That’s what sisters are for.
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I think you hit it on the head. Sometimes I think that people do make that mistake. I would like to think that I could make friends with anyone. I am a pretty open person. What you see/read is what you get.
What has been the biggest gift to me is all the friends I have made here in the blogosphere! I hope to meet many of them in my real life you included! When are you coming to our fair State?
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No trips to Colorado planned soon. Why don’t you come to the DFW Writers’ Conference in May? I’d love to meet you in person, too.
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That would be fun. I know that Piper is going. Did you know that she lives less than 5 miles from me?
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I knew y’all have gotten together before, but I didn’t know how close you lived. That’s closer than Kristen and I live.
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I followed your Jewish tweep here, and am so glad I did. Beautifully and simply stated. I’m going to take this to work with me and let some of my battling Jr High kids learn a bit about what friendship is. Love this! Glad I stalk RASJacobson because she led me here :).
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I’m glad you followed her, too, Carrie. Hope you subscribed.
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I love this, David: “If I enter into a friendship seeking what you can do for me, it will be a very shallow relationship, and before long you will begin to see through me and recognize that I’m just trying to take advantage of you. On the other hand, if I enter in a friendship seeking what I can do for you, you will come to appreciate me more and more as time goes by.”
Such a great lesson for our friendships, our writing and our lives. And those deer photos… *pauses to grab a tissue* 😉 Priceless.
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Thanks, August. You seem to be the second kind of friend – the kind that grows on people over time.
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A truer post couldn’t be written. What a beautiful perspective and embrace for friendship. I loved it. Thank you for the wonderful reminder of what matters most in this world David. HUGS!
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I’ll take those hugs, Natalie. Thanks.
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“If I enter into a friendship seeking what you can do for me, it will be a very shallow relationship, and before long you will begin to see through me and recognize that I’m just trying to take advantage of you. On the other hand, if I enter in a friendship seeking what I can do for you, you will come to appreciate me more and more as time goes by.”
I love this quote too.
And thank you for adding me to your Blogroll.
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“Those we love don’t have to be exactly like us. Friendship isn’t about whom you have known the longest . . . It’s about those who came and never left your side.”
These words come right at the right time for me. True friends support you and are there for you. They build you up rather than tear you down. They understand we all lead busy lives and are filled with joy when we can catch a small moment to connect. They come to the events in your life that are important to you and your family.
David, you and I both know that we have very different backgrounds. We are very different, but your depth and your character, your humility and acts of love and kindness are always evident.
Your posts bring joy to my heart. Thank you for sharing this well-timed post. I really needed to see this today.
I love being your Jewish tweep.
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And I love having you for a tweep and a friend, Renee. Upstate NY is nowhere near any of my beaten paths, but if I’m ever up there, I definitely want to meet you.
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