You CAN pick your friends

. . . but sometimes they pick you!

I have been on this earth long enough to learn a few valuable lessons. One of them, that I keep learning very valuable aspects of, is friendship.

Some of my best friends, are family! My sisters I count as some of the best, as well as some of my cousins! Others are friends from so many years ago, and we can pick up right where we left off, whenever we get together. I love that!

Other friends are people that are placed in our lives by consequences: School, church, work, hobbies. While some of them only stay in our lives as long as we attend school/church/work with them, they definitely make the road a little more smooth, as we go! Thankfully! And, if they come around again, 18+ years later . . . "hey, good to see ya! Let's reminisce, and then go on and make new memories!"

But, if we don't make a connection and find common ground all those years later, it is okay. The purpose was served at the time, and we all learned from it and moved on. The moving on part used to be VERY hard for me! I used to think of my friends as a collection - once you got one, you must keep it around. People are different, though, than say, teddy bears! (Don't laugh -- I just barely gave away the last 2 big plastic bags full of my teddy bear collection!)

However, I have learned from my experiences, moves, opportunities called life that this saying is true. The saying goes: "Most people come into our lives and quickly leave. It is the special few that come in and leave a footprint in our hearts. and we are forever changed."

So, as I face a new day, and a new opportunity to make friends, I will try to remember that God gives us this day to be a friend and often gives us a friend in the same moment! And I am most thankful for that gift.