“Make new friends/But keep the old/One is silver/and the other gold.” Girl Scout Friendship song
This month has been a lesson in friendship for me. In the last four weeks, I have spoken with two old friends who will always hold a special place in my heart. Before we hung up, both of them said to me, “I love you.” I swallowed the lump in my throat, blinked back a few tears, and said the same. I didn’t know they felt that way too.
A few weeks ago, a tragedy hit the church I attend. A friend’s husband died unexpectedly, shocking us all, shaking us up, and breaking our hearts for my friend and their kids. I wish I had known him better; I wish I could take her grief away.
This week, I heard two women who’ve been friends for decades share their wisdom about lifelong friendships. They talked about staying connected, having fun, and forgiving friends when they hurt you.
And yesterday, I got a note in my mailbox from another dear friend whose thoughtful words I have already re-read three times.
Why am I telling you all of this?
Because this is one thing I know for sure: friends are precious. Friends matter. Friends are worth investing both your time and your heart in.
Good friends make our lives richer. They help carry our burdens. They support us. They call out the good in us. They rejoice when we rejoice, they weep when we weep.
And they can make us laugh, even when that’s the last thing we feel like doing.
Here’s one more thing I know for sure: time is passing more quickly than we think, and there may come a day when we can’t tell our friends what they mean to us.
So, is there a friend you want to call or write a note to this week?
Or why wait? After all, tomorrow is Valentine’s Day. I know of no better time to connect with a friend than on a day reserved for love.
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