Friends

"Make new friends, but keep the old.
One is silver and the other's gold."

We used to sing that song in Girl Scouts, sitting by my friends around the campfire.

A few weeks ago I got together with my friends from my youth...38 years since we have all been together. We talked as if it was just yesterday that we graduated from Springboro High School. Granted we had a lot of news to catch up on, spouses, children, major challenges along with the successes. But once we were together, no discomfort, just a joy at being with one another again.

These were the girls with whom I ate lunch almost every school day from junior high until we graduated. We were all college prep, so took a lot of the same classes, participated in the band, chorus, sports, and worked in the library. We shared laughs and heartaches...we also had some struggles with one another. You can't get 7 girls together and not have issues...especially when we liked the same boys. But all in all, we enjoyed one another and that did not change. These are ladies that I would choose today to be my friends.

It has made me consider friendships over the years. As we've moved, some have come and gone in my life. There have been a few lost because of foolish expectations, words or actions. But friends have been there for me in the joys and sorrows of my life...special gifts given by God for our enjoyment and support.

So, here's to the golden friends of my youth. I could not have made it through those years of struggle without you. And here's to the silver friendships, both new and renewed...I don't want to make it the rest of my life without you.