Unfortunately my wine never stays around long enough to get old. And gold . . . well, I've never ever owned much gold. But friends, I'm overwhelmingly rich in friends--old and new.
There's something wonderful and rich and rewarding about old friends. I have several friends who have known me for the better part of 40 years and others with whom I've shared life's ups and downs for over 25 years. I have a group of 'girl' friends who have been good and faithful friends since our children were small, and we spent 'escape' weekends shopping in the USA. Old friends are sort of like old shoes--in the finest sense--they now you well and you just kind of fit together comfortably. There aren't a lot of things you have to explain, or stories you have to re-tell, because they've been around for most of it, and either know the stories already, or lived through them with you. They know when to come close, and when to stay away. They know when to offer a word, or a hug--or say nothing.
But you know, I also have some new friends--people I never dreamed would be close friends. And they're pretty great, too. Sure, they don't know the old stories, but neither do they care about them. In my life, many of these new friends showed up at a really difficult time, and they have been loyal and caring and compassionate in ways I never imagined new friends could be.
Friends, old AND new, are amazing treasures--not to be taken for granted or easily forgotten or disregarded. Friends are a gift from God in my life, and each day I am thankful a thousand times over for all they give to me in so many different ways.
So, if you are reading this, and you are a friend, this one's for you!! If not, maybe it's time we found each other and became friends!!
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