Make New Friends!

Growing up I was a Girl Scout. I wore the green uniform, the sash, worked incredibly hard to get each of my many badges and the highlight of my Girl Scout days was Girl Scout camp!!! If you have seen the movie the Parent Trap, then you have seen the Girl Scout camp I went to…it was fabulous! Every night around the campfire we would sing Girl Scout songs and to my astonishment I remember several of them to this day! One of my favorite songs was “Make New Friends”. We would sing this song in “round” style. That is when the song is split into sections, with each section starting the song at a different time. The first and only verse of “Make New Friends” that we would sing is:

“Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver, the other is gold.”

I have been blessed in my life with many good friendships. Some span the years and some although new have a depth that is surprising. These friendships have helped me grow deeper and more in love with Jesus.

As women we have a deep need for friendships and just like our life has seasons so does our friendships. At times our need for friends and the number of friends is greater. We depend on others for help, insight, and sanity! Then there are times the need is not for many friends rather for one or two trusted friends to help you weather the storms, heartaches and struggles of life.  The older I get the more I see friendships as a bulls-eye.  The inner circle is for one or two trusted friends that I share real life with. I share with them the deep and ugly places and we stir each other on to live more vibrantly for Jesus. I know that I am safe with them without judgement. The middle circle is for a greater number of friends I share life with but use wisdom and discretion. Lastly the outer circle is for acquaintances, it’s the biggest circle, and I share life superficially and without apology. Remember;

A righteous man is cautious in friendship, but the way of the wicked leads them astray. Proverbs 12:26 

Ladies, life is busy and it will always be busy. I have learned life never slows down; you just get better at spinning the plates!! Perhaps because of business you have not cultivated friendships, you feel alone and you really need friendships in your life…I have been there. I understand and know the loneliness and feeling of deep sorrow the lack of good friends brings. I also know the key to making good friends is found in another verse in the song “Make New Friends”;

You have one hand, I have the other. Put them together, we have each other.

Reach out, join a small group, be the one who makes the call, take the first step! Remember;

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work; If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 

You will find not everyone will reach back to you, not everyone will take your hand, but the ones that matter will.

 

From my heart to yours,

DaNetta