There are all sorts of friendships, some healthy, some really not, of which the objective of any healthy friendship is that it actually is beneficial for each party. This doesn't necessarily mean that a friendship needs to be 50:50, for any good and worthy friendship doesn't actually keep score; but rather each party to that friendship needs to be a fair contributor to it. Additionally, as much as we might wish that friendships would be filled with nothing but an unending series of good times and meaningful interactions, the fact of the matter is that friendships are going to reflect the reality of life, and life has a way of being complicated, with unexpected twists and turns that have to be resolutely dealt with.
All of the above signifies that a true friend in a real friendship is going to be the type of person that will not step away when those unenviable situations come up, that necessitates some degree of sacrifice, perspicuity, patience, concern, and action. After all, when someone is only there for when the times are good, and to their benefit, and thereupon simply vanishes at the first sign of trouble, that isn't a friend, but rather represents in truth the epitome of a fair-weather friend.
Ultimately, there are those things that we are in control of and have influence upon, and then there are those other things that we don't control, and may not have much influence upon at all. So then, that which is in our domain, we have to take responsibility for, and because of that, we may indeed have obligations and commitments that are ours to own and to do right with. So then, it must be acknowledged, that a friendship implies some degree of responsibility of one person to the other, for the very point of a good friendship, is to have that other person to share things of value with, and to be of substance and of material aid to our friend, when such is called upon.
So while it is true, that we cannot control others, we can though, control ourselves and our subsequent actions; thereby signifying that we have no legitimate excuse in not been a good friend to our friends, if that be our volition. So then, the true test of any friendship is what we do when our friend has made an error or a series of errors, even those that are grievous ones. If we decide there and then to cut the line and run, we have done them wrong, for the time that people need their friends by their side, more than ever, is when they are at their lowest, their weakest, and their most vulnerable.
The best things in life, require effort, perseverance, patience, aforethought, and follow through. Those that would have good friends need to have the attributes of a good friend displayed through their own character and by their actions. So then, when our friend is needful, that is the time to do what is right and what is necessary to be that aid to them, for that is the very epitome of a true and good friend. For all those that do answer that call they have done well, and for those that do not, they have not, no matter their excuse or reasoning.