When I was in class 2, I fought with a very good friend of mine whom I shared everything with, studied and even ate together with... After the fight, he told me to give him back all the food he gave me, the things he had bought for me, and anything of his that is with me...
I went through a lot to provide his things to him.
I didn't tell my parents about it because I thought it was just a matter between me and my friend. There were times I had to give the food or money I took to school to him and stay hungry. Although I also got angry at a point and told him to give me back all my food and other things, yet it was not a nice experience.
BUT I learnt something from this experience that has actually influenced my life. What I learnt is simply to be good to my friends and never take back anything I give or do for them no matter how my friendship with them becomes.
Fighting with my friends doesn't mean they should return all that I have ever given or done for them. No!... Having a grudge with my friends, doesn't mean I should take back everything I ever gave or did for them. No!
Fights and misunderstandings are bound to happen in friendship, but they are not the grounds to separate true friends. Good friends always do good even when their friends are not good to them.
I have learnt never to take back what I give to my friends because I had a misunderstanding with them or I had to quit my friendship with them. I always want to be a good friend.
Good friends are selfless without the basis of conditionality and reciprocity.
God is a good friend; He never takes back what He gives us when we move away from Him. He doesn't ask us to pay for all that He has done for us because we don't want Him as a friend anymore. He is s good God who is loving and faithful.
You have His nature. Be a good friend to others and don't tell them to give you back everything you gave them or did for them simply because you have a drudge with them and don't want them as friends anymore.
How can they pay for all the food you gave them? How can they give you back all the things you bought for them? How can they pay for all the time you spent together with them; the love, kindness, advice, compliments, etc?
If they cannot pay for the invisible things, then let go of the material things. You can get new ones for yourself. End your friendship with people gently and create a good memory of yourself in their hearts especially when your friendship with them breaks up.
Be a good friend. I love you. Stay blessed.
Kind regards.
Your friend,
JOHN ARTHUR
PRESIDENT
THE SCHOOL OF FRIENDSHIP
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