I need help with a tattoo idea

Im getting ideas together for my second tattoo and i was wondering if anyone could help me out with tattoo ideas that have to do with friendship. There are key people in my life that have helped me out during some hard moments in my life and i wanted to tattoo something to show my appreciation for friendship. So far I know I want the words Honor, Respect, and Loyalty in the tattoo because I feel that these are three elements that my closest friendships have had. I would like to have these words done around a central image but im having a hard time thinking of something that is a good symbol of friendship. If anyone could run some ideas by me so I can get the creative juices flowing again I would really appreciate it. I have thought about just the words but im not crazy about tattoo's that are just words, unless it was done in a creative way I guess. So finding something to add amoungst the words is key to my overall enjoyment of the final product

I would think about images or scenes that remind you of those people... things they like, or that you like together.... places that are important... that kinda thing...

I was also wondering the other day, are words something fairly simple to do, or are some artists better then others at tattooing them like other things