Chaplain's Spot

“Friendship – real or fake?”

What do you value most about friendships? Have yours been mostly positive or more often negative? These days, when there is such an emphasis on on-line ‘friends’, we need to be wise about what we share with others who we don't really know or trust. Many people hide behind their on-line persona, making others’ lives miserable by destructive words. 

Here are a few qualities of true and fake friends. May you know the joy of having loyal and trustworthy friends in your life, and be able to disconnect from those who are not true friends.

Qualities of a True Friend:

Unconditional Support: True friends are there for you, no matter what, offering encouragement and understanding during both good and bad times. 

Genuine Care: They show a real interest in your life, listen to your concerns, and remember important details about you. 

Respect and Trust: They value your opinions and boundaries, and you can trust them to keep your confidences. 

Loyalty: They stand by you, even when you make mistakes, and won't betray your trust. 

Empathy and Understanding: They try to see things from your perspective and offer support during difficult times. 

Enjoyment of your company: They enjoy spending time with you and make an effort to engage in quality time. 

Honesty and Integrity: They tell the truth, even when it's difficult, and act with integrity in their interactions with you. 

Open Communication: They communicate openly and honestly, fostering a strong and healthy relationship. 

Qualities of a Fake Friend:

Conditional Support: They are only there for you when it benefits them or when they feel like it. 

Self-Centeredness: They prioritize their own needs and desires, often using you to fulfill their own goals. 

Manipulation: They might use guilt, emotional blackmail, or other manipulative tactics to get what they want. 

Criticism and Judgment: They constantly criticize your choices, opinions, or life, often to make themselves feel better. 

Lack of Trust: They gossip about you behind your back, betray your confidences, or lie to you. 

Inconsistency: They may be friendly one moment and distant the next, depending on their needs or mood. 

Surface-Level Interactions: They may not make an effort to know you on a deeper level or engage in meaningful conversations. 

Exclusion: They regularly exclude you from activities or events, or don't seem to make any real effort to engage in quality time. 

Taking more than giving: They take far more than they give, while promising they're true friends. 

If you would like to talk about any of this in regard to your life experience, please feel free to do so. 

Community wellbeing:  Our Toast Tuesday program runs before school in the Sports and Performance Centre, and is open to all students. 

If you would like to help, the link to sign up for Term 2 is volunteersignup.org/LL3RB. We begin again on Tuesday 22 April. 

We are thankful to Woolies Eastland and Bakers Delight Heathmont for their support of Toast Tuesday. If you would like to receive regular bread or rolls please let me know.

Uniforms: We also have available second-hand uniforms in good condition for sale, for gold coin donations. These sales also provide necessary supplies for Toast Tuesday.

Contact: Feel free to contact me at any time. 

Alan Silverwood: Chaplain - Pastoral care for our community. [Tuesday & Friday]

[alan.silverwood@education.vic.gov.au]

Supporting the School community in emotional, social, spiritual and practical wellbeing. 

Our Chaplaincy program is funded by the Federal Government’s ‘National Student Wellbeing Program’, the GRPS School Council and donations.