Level 5 Friend

They say:

There are five levels of friendship with 5 being the deepest level.

If you have as many real friends as you have fingers on one hand you are very fortunate.

You may have many acquaintances but only a few friends.

Some friendships are temporary but some stand the test of time.

A true friend accepts you unconditionally warts and all.

All these sayings are true. Paul said something like this to Philemon when describing their friendship.

Verse 4 – You’re a level 5 friend and I give thanks for you all the time and pray specifically for you.

Verse 5 – Even when we are not together I trust you to remain faithful to God and to the people around you.

Verse 6 – When we’re together I see how you treat others and it makes me closer to God.

Verse 7 – You make me happy when I’m down. You give me the “want to” when I don’t want to. You make me a better person because you are in my life.

Of course, I paraphrased and interpreted these verses and I hope with Paul’s feelings and intentions. Philemon was his good friend; good to him and good for him.

Then he described his friendship with Onesimus that he was sending to Philemon:

Verse 10 –He is like my child and I feel that type of relationship with him.

Verse 11 – He is so very attuned to needs around him and is ready to serve. He has changed from his old ways to become this new person.

Verse 12 – I beg you to accept the new him because this Onesimus is also my level 5 friend.

Verse 13 – I wanted to selfishly keep him here with me but I’m so excited about his progress and I think you need to see this change. You need to restore your broken relationship with him because he can be a level 5 friend with you.

Again, I paraphrased. Onesimus found his true ministry and Paul was very proud of him. Onesimus was his good friend; good to him and good for him.

 All this made me consider my close friends. Can I say these things about them? More importantly, can they say these things about me?

This is the definition of friendship to be used when you are counting your real friends. The on one hand kind of friend. The level 5 friend. The you can be you around them and it's OK friend.

It makes me want to work a little harder on my friendship skills. It makes me want to be closer to people who possess theses friendship skills.

Who can you bump level 5 with?

P.S. I miss my Gary, my love and friend.