“Friendship is a strong and habitual inclination in two persons to promote the good and happiness of one another.” – Eustace Budgell

Or, to put it another way, “The person with the greater need comes first.”  This obviously applies to families as well, but the “greater need” part can be tricky to discern.  A child with the flu is quite different from a whiny child who is bored; a partner with a need for some space quite different from one who is depressed.  We need to be mindful of our own needs, too.  It takes some thought.

Am I being a good friend these days?