Monday Musings: Friends

When I was a young girl in Girl Scouts, we used to sing a little song about friends. That song popped into my brain a couple of weeks ago, as I was driving home from spending some time with my life-long friend. 

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

Are new friends a good thing? Absolutely! It's amazing when you're able to find someone you can really connect with.  It's exciting to get to know each other as you build that trust and camaraderie over time. 

But nothing compares to "old" friends.  The friend that you share decades of history and memories with.  They are more than just a friend, you consider her family just as much like the one you were born into. 

It's the long-time friend that makes you feel safe. She's the one you are always comfortable being silly around. The one you can trust with your feelings. 

I am blessed to have a friend like that. 

We've known each other our entire lives.  She was born just a few weeks after I was.  We never attended school together.  But we went to the same church and would get together to play when I would visit with my grandparents. She knew me in the awkward middle school years.  Through the braces and bad haircuts.   In the years when there was no email and we lived states apart and would write actual snail-mail letters and cards to each other to stay in touch.  

Even though we still live in different states and haven't seen each other in a few years (thanks Covid), it always feels like no time at all has passed as soon as we're able to get back together. I look forward to hearing all the details of her life that I have missed out on over the months or years.  And quickly we are swapping stories and discussing everything from the mundane to the philosophical. 

Those "old" friends truly are one of life's great treasures. 

A Pleasant Surprise

How great is my God?  Truly amazing!  Let me tell you a story...

A few days ago I had a very vivid dream.  In it, the family and I went into a restaurant with some friends of ours.  And there sat an old friend of mine from high school.  One I haven't seen or spoken to in 15 to 20 years.  We caught up and exchanged phone numbers. 

I woke up wondering why in the world I had dreamed about her.  I haven't thought about her in so long, and it was such a real dream.

Flash forward to Wednesday evening.  The family and I are meeting friends (yes, the ones we were going to the restaurant with in the dream) are heading to church for an evening of worship and a celebration of the Lord's Supper.  As we walk toward the worship center I glance over and my heart stopped!.  There, walking into another room  IS THE SAME WOMAN I HAD DREAMED ABOUT just days before.

At least I was 99% sure it was her.  I couldn't be positive unless I spoke to her.

I was shaken to my core.  I had dreamed about running into her and suddenly there she is in my church?  What were the chances? 

I couldn't stop thinking about it through the entire service.  And I decided if I saw her again after I had to go over and find out if it was in fact her and to speak to her.  I knew if God had placed both of us there at that moment - there had to be a reason and I couldn't let the opportunity pass by.

Standing in the atrium after, my eyes kept scanning the crowd.  Was it her?  Would I see her again?  There!!  I think I may have sprinted over to her (and I hope I didn't elbow anyone or knock down any small children in my hurry) and said "Excuse me, are you S-?"  It was!  I told her who I was, and a joyful reunion too part. I think I hugged her at least 3 or 4 times.

We have exchanged phone numbers.  Texts were sent today. 

I don't know why God decided it was time for our paths to cross again, but I can't wait to see what He has in mind for us!