Friends are never earned They're a gift from the loving God And they're precious beyond human evaluation But you dare not take them for granted Or they'll drift away like a smoke And the warmth of their caring will vanish Like the chill of the endless nights Most of my friends are unknowns And they probably won't rate an obituary Unless they live and die in small towns Where nothing much ever happens But a few of my friends are big people They'd made the world ring with laughter Down to it's gaseous burning core They're famous, sensitive, talented And their names are household words Yet they're no more precious in God's eyes or in mine Than those wonderful nobodys who live and die in small towns Who is your friend? He's someone who warms you with a nod Or with the unspoken word in hard times When you're hurting beyond words Who is your friend? She's someone who holds you to her breast And sighs softly into your hair When no other medicine can stop the pain A friend is someone who clinks his glass against yours Or answers the phone At three in the morning when you're lost And with a few words of encouragement and concern Makes you realize that you aren't really lost at all Friends come in both sexes and in all shapes and sizes The most important thing they have in common Is the ability to share with you, your most sky splitting joys Or your deepest, most awesome sorrows For they are your friends