“Cleave” means to split apart and to cling together. Hard times usually do one of the two to a friendship.

Pressure does not leave relationships where it found them. A hard stretch sorts your people, pulling some of them closer than they were and quietly removing others, and you often cannot predict in advance which way a particular friend will go. The strain is the same. The response is not, and a split is information rather than an accusation.

If you are in a hard season, notice who turns up and let that count for more than who is loudest in good weather. Say thank you to one of them out loud this week. Hold the ones who drifted lightly, because people have reasons you cannot see.