Real friends, true friends,…committed friends are very precious and wonderful things to have.  Most folks do not have very many, if any at all.

I was once told by a very successful business man, who owned and operated a global sales and marketing business with literally hundreds of thousands of people involved in it, that if you spent your entire life working with people, by the time of your death you would be able to count all of your real, true, committed friends on one hand.

I found that statement very difficult to believe when he initially told it to me.  More than thirty-five years have come and gone since that time.  And now as owner and operator of my own global sales and marketing business with tens of thousands of people involved in it, I can painfully and regretfully tell you that I need only one of my hands on which to count all of my real, true, committed friends.

My point is to help you realize just how few such true friends there are in your life and in all other people’s lives.  I want to impress upon you just how vital and important and valuable these type people are to you.

My dear true friend, Bill, explained it this way to me thirty-five years ago.  He said, “Most folks don’t really have any real, true friends.  Rather they have ‘fair-weather’ friends.  Those are friends who are with you and will support you only when it is convenient for them to do so and/or when they see that there is a blessing or reward for themselves by supporting you.  Other wise, they just call themselves your ‘good friend,’ but only support you as a true friend at their own convenience.”

Let’s look closer.  Have you ever been really excited about a new opportunity you are examining and considering to pursue?  Have you ever asked your dear true friend to take the time to look at the same opportunity and possibly consider getting involved in it with you?

Permit me to inform you that a real true friend would at least take the time to see what it is that his real true friend is so excited about, regardless whether he chose to take advantage of it or not.

Only a “fair-weather” friend would refuse to even look at such an opportunity,…or…. would agree to look and then fail to show up at a  scheduled presentation.

“Fair-weather” friends are always unreliable….are always undependable,...are always with you when they sense a benefit to themselves, but not with you when they don’t.

Here is a true statement:  “Fair-weather” friends are never to be counted on as real true friends.  If you are in a state of denial about this point, I guarantee you will watch it play out to become truth in your own life.

Only Real, True, Friends can honestly be called totally supportive friends.

Be very careful as to who you call “a real true friend.”

Now I realize I have been pretty tough on you with my statements, but I am not trying to scare you or argue with you,…I am only attempting to bring the truth, as I have lived it, to you.  Learning and understanding it now will save you lots of heartburn and heartache later on in your life.  I promise you.

As you continue on through this discussion, I hope that it becomes clearly obvious as to why God fore warned us as to whom and from where your greatest enemies will come.  I exhort you with my greatest sensitivity to only edify, uplift, and speak well about all those folks who come into your life,….desire to be your real friend,…earn your confidence and support, call you close friends and associates, and actually work alongside you, edify you first and most importantly support you physically, mentally and emotionally as the work ethic tying you together continues to grow and strengthen.

Beware  of the ones who call you friend.  Who say they love you, who promise to always be there with you,….and then in your hour of real need,… fail to support you, or  worse, actually betray you and leave you alone, on your knees with your head bowed over a bucket before the another person’s or organization’s guillotine.  A real true friend’s support does not stop just because they disagree with you or take a position on an issue different from yours.

Don’t get blown out of a good opportunity or have it stolen away from you just because your considered real friends don’t get excited about it with you.  May I point out to you that whenever I use the word “friends,” it would also include members of your own family.  You see a “fair-weather” friend seldom gets excited about something his fair-weather associate is excited about.

“Fair-weather” friends seem to want to be the selfish one, the one who is the first person to get excited about something and then get all of his own associates involved in it with him….not the other way around. On the other hand, a real true friend is always eager to support his real true friend and either get involved with or help their real friend out in any way possible.

For this primary reason most of your greatest growth in any really good business opportunity will generally come from and with other people who you never knew before you started your own business….before you started up the road to your own success.

Most, not all, of these folks with whom you will build your future are generally known as casual acquaintances and complete strangers.  These type “new friends” most usually don’t know about your past.  They don’t know your good and/or bad habits or your strengths and/or weaknesses.  Consequently they won’t judge you.  They won’t criticize you.  They won’t scrutinize your decisions and related actions based upon their knowledge of you and your past.

In other words they will listen to you.  They will learn from you.   They will regularly communicate with you…And as they follow your guidance, knowledge and direction…..as they duplicate the work habits you teach them,…they will begin to prosper.  They will grow and change and bless other people…They will do what you have taught them to do.  They will begin to grow spiritually.  They will hunger and thirst to be around you and associate with you regularly.  

How many people do you have involved in your life, right now, who fit that description?

Over an extended period of growth, blessing, and time spent together,….these true real friends will draw very close to you, and they will become very precious and wonderful real, true, and committed friends.  They will be every bit as close, and in many cases, even closer than your own blood family members.

It will be these type friends with whom you will grow and build your and your family’s future.  It will be these type of friends with whom you will grow old gracefully together.  It will be these real true friends who will be some of your most precious and valuable treasures.  They will loyally stand by and with you through all the trials and tribulations that come into your life.  They will support and assist you. They will defend and co-labor with you. You will live, love, laugh, rejoice, and cry together.  You will grow closer and closer together, physically, emotionally and spiritually as the years pass by.  You truly will become one with them.

Real True Friends are indeed a Gift to you from God.

I exhort you to love, preserve, and protect these personal relationships.  Never do anything to injure, harm, weaken, put “at-risk,” or destroy the loving relationship you have with these people.

Nurture, strengthen, and enjoy each and every opportunity you have to be together with your Real True Friends.  

God will richly bless you for doing so.  All Glory Be To God!

 

Peace and love to all of you….Poppa Bear