Article January 1, 1998 Issue

To share friendship

Maartje Hoogendijk

When I was in grade school and then in college, I wasn't completely happy. The students in the class didn't want to be friends with me, and worse, they acted like enemies. They wouldn't talk to me. The last years of college went better. I had some friends, but these were only superficial friendships.

The situation changed when I began to understand that I needed to love my friends instead of putting the accent on my personal needs. So I started each day by thinking, “Who can I help today? Who can I comfort by expressing love?”

I understood that, even if certain philosophies say we are solitary beings, we’re really always one with God. God is our best friend. Consequently, we can never be alone. The stronger our friendship with God is, the better we can love our fellow men and women.

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