Friendship true and loving: some attributes

Group reflections on Introduction to devote life
Part – 3 (chap. 21-41)
English group
(Showry, Ceasar and Joseph Minja)

• On avoiding bad friendships Don Bosco advised his boys to be more alert about bad companion ships and intern he promoted pious sodalities and prayer groups to distract their mind from bad things. Basing on Don Boscos’ idead, St. Dominic Savio one of the boys in his oratory exclaimed that “Jesus and Mary are his friends” Running away from bad companionship is running away from a Snake.

• Playing double role in our intimate relationship either it be between husband and wife or between friends are not advisable.
• We need to be careful of the situations which will lead us to bad relations and snatches one from being with Jesus.
• We need to be appropriate to ourselves and avoid inappropriate relationships and intimacy with others.
• When there is true intimacy there is always room for Truth, and freedom of expression and sharing.
• The true and loving friendship will not lead to sin.

Reflecting on mortification, we need to be more cautious of being tempted when the body is over fed. All need to be moderate in feeding the body. Apart from this, if there is no faith from ones heart there is no meaning for whatever mortification we might do. Don Bosco said “Our length of our sleep must depend on the length of our work we do, ‘work and temperance’. But actual penance and mortification consists in doing our simple works daily, in a profound manner.

Speaking of oneself, first, one must have faith that he or she is a gift of God and when one recognizes this he or she will begin to recognize others and appreciate others as a Great gift of God.

Our behavior and physical appearance at the altar of the Lord must be kept in mind. Precisely decorum and piety must be shown. Our external behavior and appearance should not embarrass people.

We must manifest and witness God, through our talk, and behavior. Basically or initially this would fall on the families in which we live. The basic foundation for faith is our families where we learn initial piety and devotion to the Lord.

Speaking on optimistic attitude, if one cannot say any good about his companion it is time to shut one's mouth.