Always the Groomsman

This weekend, Richard got asked to be in another wedding. He and I laughed as we tried to count the number of weddings he's been in. We couldn't count them all.
I can think of eight weddings off the top of my head and he has two more coming up in April. Needless to say, Rich has the groomsman thing down pat, and can even give one heck of a Best Man's Toast. He also throws a pretty great bachelor party.

This got me to thinking.
What is it about my man that so many other men want his presence in their weddings?
This got me thinking about friendships.
I really think that when it comes to friendship, men do a better job than women.
Case in point:
-Forgetting a birthday: not that big of a deal.
-Forgetting about boys night: big deal.
-Missing a new haircut, pair of glasses, facial hair, etc.: no big deal.
-Missing a new truck or motorcycle: big deal.
Other things that seem to make a male friendship work:
-Grabbing, pinching, twisting, or hitting.
-Name calling / nicknames.
-Silly voices.
-Semi-perverted text messages.
-Quietly listening to each other and not offering advice, unless asked.
-Offering to help out, and meaning it.
-Showing up to help out.
-Returning phone calls.
-Answering phone calls.
-Sticking up for (and protecting when necessary) each other's wives.
-Not holding grudges.
-Making commitments.
-Keeping commitments.
-Picking wise battles (that usually end in grabbing, pinching, twisting or hitting).
-Showing mercy to each other.

Oswald Chambers writes, "True friendship is rare on earth. It means identifying with someone in thought, heart, and spirit. The whole experience of life is designed to enable us to enter into this closest relationship with Jesus Christ."
I agree that true friendship is rare on earth, and while I don't think there will be much pinching or name calling in heaven, I guess if so many young men want Richard in their weddings, he must be a pretty good friend.