Your dad and I were going out. It was our anniversary and just the two of us were headed out the door for a night of no responsibility and a dose of financially irresponsibility. The next day, I stood at the sink scrapping out a bowl full of macaroni and cheese that had been left to waste the night before by the 3 of you and your baby sitter. No one had taken the time to transfer it to a tupperware and put it in the fridge. I suspect the call of new kindles and a freshly taped episode of your favorite show pulled you away not caring what happened to the left over mac and cheese, a favorite meal often begged for was left for the trash.
It’s so true that we live in a disposable society. Always upgrading our phones and electronics for the newest and shiniest versions out there, tucking our old ones in a drawer or a box in the basement and maybe even dropping them off to be recycled at the local high school. Macaroni and cheese and electronics are one thing, but I have recently had cause to wonder, what about people? Dare I even say... friends. Once your shopping buddy, coffee date, friday night family dinner companions is now set on the back burner because someone new has come along. Someone who is fun and full of life. I have heard it said “Some people are in your life for just a season”, but I wonder... is that our nice way of saying “yay, I’m done with you, I have found something new and more exciting.” Don’t get me wrong, I am all for new friendships and adding another shade of color and texture to the people that surround me, in fact, I am meeting a new friend for coffee tomorrow, but I wonder... does it have to be done at the expense of the other people in our life?
Are friends so easy to come by that we can afford to just leave them sitting in the bowl to waste over night like the mac and cheese?
I’m not really a New Year’s resolution kind a girl, seems like something that should be done continually, year round to me. But with the start of this year I have felt the sting of feeling like I have been set aside and it has caused me to take pause, to look back over my life and the friends that the Lord has so gracious given me and I have decided that it’s time I make more of an effort to cherished each and every one of them for the treasure that they are.
How fortunate am I that someone would want to share their laughs, fears, quirks and tears with me. As you grow and meet new friends along the way, I challenge you to remember the value of all of your friends, old and new. Each is very special to God and should be special to you as well. Love you girlies!
