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The 10 Commandments of Friendship
By JLP | August 26, 2006
It’s late, I can’t sleep, so I decided to read. I have been reading a book by Dr. David Jeremiah titled The Joy of Encouragement - Unlock the Power of Building Others Up. It’s a pretty good little Christian book that helped me think about other people for a change. I get so focused on myself that I have a hard time thinking of others.
The last page of the book lists The Ten Commandments of Friendship. I don’t know if these commandments were thought up by Dr. Jeremiah or someone else (the book doesn’t say). Regardless, I thought they were worth sharing with you:
The Ten Commandments of Friendship
1. Speak to people. There is nothing as nice as a cheerful word of greeting.
2. Smile at people. It takes 72 muscles to frown, but only 14 to smile! (I know we get tired of hearing that, but it’s true)
3. Call people by name. The sweetest music to anyone’s ear is the sound of their own name.
4. Be friendly and helpful. If you would have friends, be friendly.
5. Be cordial. Speak and act as if everything you do were a real pleasure.
6. Be genuinely interested in people. You can like everyone IF YOU TRY.
7. Be generous with praise, cautious with criticism. Try for a ratio of seven praises to each criticism. (Personally, I am bad at this one. I’m a very critical person.)
8. Be considerate of the feelings of others. It will be appreciated.
9. Be thoughtful of the opinions of others. People love their opinions as they do their own children; calling them ugly won’t get you anything but anger. (Again, one that I struggle with.)
10. Be alert to give service. What counts most in life is what we do for others!
I don’t know about you but I think this is a good little list. I’m going to share it with my kids!
Topics: Personal Growth |