There is a saying, “Things are never quite as scary when you have a best friend.” What are the qualities of best friends?

• They can be trusted
• They talk at your front and not at your back
• They wish and bring out the best in you
• They are accepting of your shortcomings
• They tell you what is right and what is wrong and what is true and what is false
• They double the fun and half the grief
• The most important one: they bring you to God

In the Gospel, Jesus healed a paralytic because of faith – the faith of his friends. 

Hence, when a good friend passes away, three things we remember:

1. First, we thank God for our best friend. People come and go in our lives. Some for a short time and some for a long time. There are those who thought us how to love and those who taught us how to forgive. Yet, everyone comes into our lives for a reason and purpose. Thank you for the true friends who come to our lives. 
   
2. Second, they are true friends regardless of space and time. Hence, in our prayer, in our rosaries, and in our Masses, we continue to pray for our best friends. We pray they have eternal peace and rest. 
   
3. Third, may we too continue to value our friendships. Life is short and swift and we can be consumed with the business of life. How many times did we wish to catch up with people but decided some other time – until there was none available.

Thank you, Lord for the gift of best friends. They are the family we choose and who choose us.