It is true that love cannot be forced, that it cannot be made to order, that we cannot love because we ought to, or even because we want to. But we can bring ourselves into the presence of the lovable.

We can enter into friendship through the door of discipleship; we can learn love through service, and the day will come to us also when the Master’s word will be true: “I call you no longer servant, but I call you friend.” His love will take possession of us until all else will seem as hatred in comparison.

The Art of Being a Good Friend
Hugh Black