Through the course of our lifetime, we will encounter many acquaintances, but few will rise to the level of friend. Why is that? Well, one reason is that you simply do not have anything in common. Have you ever met someone that just rubs you the wrong way? Your personalities are totally different. For instance, when you were in high school, there was a certain group of girls that were loud and common, and you did not care to associate with them. Then, at your 10-year high school class reunion, you discover that your opinion of that group had not changed. Even as adults, you still did not care to be in their presence. They never rose beyond the level of acquaintances. However, those that you considered friends were still your friends. But, as we all know, life happens. Friends get married and move away from home or they get a job offer that forces them to relocate. Maybe they evacuated during a hurricane and decided to make that place their new home. Now, you keep in touch through text messages, Instagram, Facebook, or some other form of social media. That bond is not as close as it once was. The person that used to be your best friend while a teenager or young adult is no longer your best friend, but you would still offer a helping hand if needed. Following high school graduation, some of your friends may have joined the military. As a matter of fact, marines who served in Iraq and Afghanistan often refer to their fellow comrades as brothers. Only those who have been in a war zone truly understand what their teammates went through. They develop a bond that may be stronger than the bond they have with their own brothers. We do not get to choose our biological families. Sometimes, we get along and sometimes we don’t. It takes more than sharing DNA to make folks family. Over time, we develop relationships that go beyond friendship to the next level. Those relationships have been elevated from friend to family.

By Jacqueline C. Winston