There Are 3 Sides to Every Story

by Patricia Zimmerman

There are three sides to every story: yours, mine, and the truth.

Everything we experience in life is filtered through our own perception—our experiences, beliefs, emotions, wounds, and understanding of what happened. We may sincerely believe that our perception is the truth, but our perception is not always absolute Truth—God’s Truth.

That is why we should be careful about judging others or choosing sides based on only one perspective. If someone is willing to listen to only one side of a story, perhaps their mind was already made up. They may not really be seeking understanding or truth; they may simply be looking for confirmation of what they already believe.

  • A true friend will take the time to hear both sides.

  • A true friend doesn't automatically choose sides. They seek to understand.

  • A true friend will be honest with you, even when what they have to say is difficult or something you don't want to hear. They tell you the truth because they care about you—not because they want to hurt you.

  • A true friend will accept you exactly as you are—through the good times and the bad, through your strengths and your imperfections. They don't expect you to be perfect to deserve their friendship.

  • A true friend will not use you, manipulate you, take advantage of you, or abuse the trust you've placed in them.

  • A true friend respects your boundaries.

  • A true friend celebrates your successes without jealousy and stands beside you when life becomes difficult.

  • A true friend can disagree with you without disrespecting you.

  • A true friend can tell you when you're wrong without making you feel that you are worthless.

  • A true friend doesn't disappear when you can no longer give them something they want.

  • A true friend doesn't turn your vulnerability into a weapon.

  • A true friend protects your confidence.

  • A true friend doesn't ask you to abandon your truth, your values, or yourself just to keep the friendship.

  • And perhaps most importantly, a true friend gives you the grace to be human.

Because friendship isn't about always agreeing. It isn't about blindly defending one another. And it certainly isn't about taking sides without knowing the whole story. It is about honesty, respect, loyalty, compassion, trust, forgiveness, and the willingness to seek truth—even when the truth isn't convenient.

Sometimes we will misunderstand one another. Sometimes we will hurt one another. Sometimes we will see the same situation completely differently. But when there is genuine friendship, there is a willingness to talk, listen, understand, take responsibility, forgive, and grow.

And when we don't know the whole story, perhaps the wisest thing we can do is pause before judging and remember: “I may not know the whole truth.” Because our perception may be our truth…

…but God sees the whole picture. And perhaps that is why a true friend is such a treasure.

In a world where genuine connection can sometimes feel increasingly rare, a friend who stands beside you with honesty, loyalty, compassion, and unconditional acceptance is something truly precious. A true friend is not someone who simply stands with you when everyone else does.

A true friend is someone who knows your heart, tells you the truth, gives you grace when you stumble, celebrates who you are, and chooses to walk beside you—not because they have to, but because they genuinely value you.

True friendship is rare. True friendship is precious. And a true friend is a treasure worth protecting.

Perhaps today, we should not only ask, “Do I have a true friend?” We should also ask ourselves: “Am I being the kind of true friend I hope to have?”