TJL #7: Friends are critical.

Today's JOKER Lesson (TJL) takes us on the path of our final lesson for this series

It builds upon the saying . . . Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.

With the wisdom to be gained – be careful who you view as your friends. If they are not tried & true, they may not be trustful. So make the time to review who your true friends are. For the good ones, make sure you appreciate them. For the fringe friends, make sure you proceed cautiously. For our good friends are a part of the long journey. Everyone else is a part of the learning as we go. Some are honorable, some are horrible and the rest live within the range in between those two points. They all are valuable because our interactions with them build up our character. Just beware of the ones who can tear it down.

And remember – your good friends know who you are and what you embrace. They know you will be honest with them and you will help them when you can. And the good thing is they know they can be honest with you and that they will help you when they can.

That's what friends are. Always has been, always will be. Thanks for thinking about this and for being a good friend for your friends. Our prayers and best wishes for all (and remember).

As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. -Proverbs 27:17