Read Proverbs 17:17  Our verse today is much like our verse yesterday.  It talks about good friends.  It says that friends love at all times.  It is good to have a friend to laugh with you and talk about funny things.  But it is even better to have a friend to stick by you when you are having a bad day and things aren't very funny.  Everyone likes you when you are having a good day, but only your best friends stick by you when you are having a bad day.  That's what friends are for.  They enjoy the good times, and they stick by you in the bad times.  The last half of our verse uses a new word: adversity.  Adversity means anything that is contrary or something that goes the wrong way.  For example, when you pet your dog, you stroke your hand down her back.  You can't rub your hand up her back - that is rubbing the wrong way.  Adversity means things are rubbing you the wrong way.  Our verse says that brothers are born for adversity.  When you have a problem - and I mean a real problem - you can count on a dear friend.  Someone who is either a real brother or like a brother.  We all need a few friends who we can count on.  We'll learn more about a true friend in Chapter 18.