In this day and age, true friendships are rare. Too often we confuse friendships with acquaintances. However, there is a difference between being an acquaintance and being a friend.

An acquaintance is someone whose name you know, who you see every now and then, who you probably have something in common with and feel comfortable around, only comfortable enough to share common things with but not the intimate details of your life.

Friends are different; they are the people you feel safe around because you know they really care about you and you don’t mind sharing your life with them.

Who can live without friends and how do we measure this friendship?

Jesus once said, “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” Now that’s a friend.

As we remember soldiers, there is no doubt they are friends to this great country and us. To some, Memorial Day is just another holiday, just another day off from work, or just another day to go to the beach or to barbecue. But for those who have lost a loved one due to war or active duty and for those who appreciate and recognize the difference that soldiers make in the world, it’s more than just another day.

Instead, today is a day to remember our brave friends who routinely sacrifice their lives defending our country, giving us the freedom that we all share and enjoy.

We all need friends, but few understand the basics about forming quality friendships.

Solomon wrote, “If anyone wants to have a friend, let him show himself to be a friend.” As we remember those who have befriended us by wearing the uniform, let us ask ourselves how we have shown ourselves to be friends to soldiers. Too often, soldiers are overlooked and under appreciated. They serve this great country, but how do we as a country serve them? Today let us be more determined to show ourselves as friends. We can begin by advocating for the widows of fallen soldiers.

Think about it; their spouses have laid down their lives for us. They sacrificed companionship for their country, their happiness for our happiness, and yes, their dreams for our dreams. We should not neglect them in their loss; instead, we should show our appreciation for their dedication to our beloved country. We cannot appreciate soldiers without appreciating their spouses.

What friends we have in soldiers. For a good soldier to say yes to active duty means that he or she must say no to so many other things.

As we reflect about the soldiers that have gone on before us, let us think about the things that we can say no to in order to make our country a better nation. We are only as great as our decisions.

Today, let’s say no to the things that attempt to divide us and say yes to the things that make us a great nation. What is that you may ask? It is laying down our lives for one another.