loy·al·ty - 1. the quality of being loyal 2. a feeling of friendship or duty towards someone or something.

It’s a characteristic that we all appreciate in a friend.  It’s a characteristic that I’ve always just sort of taken for granted.  I would like to think I’m a loyal person, but honestly I’ve never spent a lot of time thinking, “Am I loyal?”  “Am I a loyal friend?” Those aren’t questions I ever really asked.

Recently I had a conversation with a friend, and in that conversation they expressed their true loyalty toward me.  I was blown away!  I never really knew what a valuable gift I had in that friend.  Their loyalty humbled me, even convicted me, and challenged me personally to be a more loyal friend.

So friend (if you read this) thank you for being a true friend, a loyal friend.

What trait to you most appreciate in a friend?  Is that a strong trait that you possess personally?  Would people consider you to be a loyal friend?