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According to the New King James version of the Bible Proverbs 27:9 says "Ointment and perfume delight the heart, and the sweetness of a man’s friend gives delight by hearty counsel". Have you experienced the joy of having beautiful friendships with others of like-mind in the faith who are true friends, have your best interests at heart, and enjoy spending time together by being yourself while the banter is effortless and freely flowing? Several hours in one another's company seems like just a few minutes while you don't want the time spent together to end. What a blessing to have this gift given by God between His children who have things in common together, in addition to our faith and first love while exercising Proverbs 27:17.
Good friendships can certainly lift our hearts to be refreshingly therapeutic like effective medicine (Proverbs 17:22) and that is exactly how it is for me — an outing with a couple of close friends having a coffee in a café while "catching up" or out and about setting up our easels to create a scene in charcoal, watercolours, or oil paints delights my heart and feeds my countenance well with hearty friendship. An "extra" or bonus byproduct is being engaged in creative pursuits which elevates my spirit to extraordinary heights. Laughter also calms and strengthens our minds while giving a positive and merry visage thereby exacting an encouraging synergy and assists in healing too. Proverbs 17:17 reminds us that a friend loves at all times and always has tender qualities such as compassion, kindness, meekness, patience, and the bond of perfection — love — in order to promote and strengthen friendships which Colossians 3:12-17 expands upon nicely.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 instructs "Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing". Friendships not only do that but much more. Knowing that we have something to look forward to such as a day out with friends can be of such comfort especially when being battered by a strong trial which can be relentless and long-standing causing a low mood, a less than ideal attitude, or even depression. Psalm 133:1-3 is a rather short piece of inspirational writing containing only 63 words yet is so beautifully full and breathtakingly so when filtered through God's eyes as He sees friendships blossom between us in the most loving way. Here it is complete in form "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, running down on the beard, the beard of Aaron, running down on the edge of his garments. It is like the dew of Hermon, descending upon the mountains of Zion; for there the Lord commanded the blessing—Life forevermore".
King David wrote Psalm 133 and this reminds me that one of the best friendship examples I can think of which always inspires is the one shared between David and Jonathan. 1 Samuel 18-20 provides the major part of the account about their close friendship for those who would like to read about true friendship. God tells us in Proverbs 18:24 "A man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother". And so it is, if we want to have friends and good, close friendships then we first must be friendly. Sage advice from the best source and the only true place we can fully trust is always found in our Bibles. To study more completely about what the Bible has to say about promoting good friendships is interesting and very helpful. There are both positives and negatives to consider as to why it is so important to nurture good relationships in all of our friendships and steer well clear of foolish or bad company which corrupts (1 Corinthians 15:33, Proverbs 13:20).
May you have good long lasting friendships, treasuring these as the beautiful gift that they are, and continue to give thanks to God for them always.