How strong are your friendships?

Are they really strong or do you just put up with each other’s differing opinions?

I am very blessed in many of my friendships, but the one I want to focus on with this blog is an amazing situation that I wish all people could experience.

My friend, I’ll call him Peter (as that is his real name) and I are very close in age and share many views. I find it interesting because we come from totally different backgrounds. The biggest difference in our backgrounds is that Peter and his family suffered at the hands of two different countries governments actions. Whereas in my situation being a North American I have not had the experience of a repressive government, I’ve just experienced many governments that were ideologically driven to the detriment of the tax-payers including me.

Now the challenge in our relationship. Peter does not agree with all that is being done regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. He feels it is a lot to do about nothing. What he has a problem with is that he feels is the disregard of human rights of the over 80% of the population whose health is not going to be affected but whose lives are being disrupted by the shutdowns. I feel that the way that this virus is being spread so easily it is a problem that will impact many of us on a very deep level.

The great thing about our relationship is that we have been able to exchange our opinions very honestly and openly. That meaning that we are mature enough to know that we are different people and have developed our own opinions over the years.

I don’t know how this pandemic will turn out, but there is one thing that I do know – it is that Peter and my friendship is secure. I believe it all comes down to having a strong belief in respect for others.

In fact; we have both communicated that we might have to agree to disagree. I always remember what my father said to me over 30 years ago when I was elected as a City Councilor. He stated; ‘Remember if all of you agree, only one of you is needed.”

As I conclude this blog, I want to ask you one question;

What is one way that you can grow stronger in your relationships?