There is a saying on friendship that I love: "It takes a long time to grow an old friend."
I love my friends, both the old and the new. But there is something so comforting about the old friends. It is like being wrapped up in a warm old soft blanket or quilt...the kind you have had for ages. Or sitting in your favorite comfy chair...it fits just right and almost seems to hug you when you sink into it.
The comfort of old friends is the familiarity..the knowing that you don't have to overexplain yourself, sometimes you don't have to explain at all. You can be comfortable with an old friend in total silence or talking. If it's an old friend, chances are, you have shared laughter and tears, joys and sorrows, tragedies in life, fun in life...and the list can go on and on.
I just spent a weekend with my former sister in law and my two nieces. I have come to think of as a genuine sister. We have become treasured friends over the years. She is one of my strongest encouragers and prayer warriors in life. I feel no need to put on a mask when I am with her..I can be my true genuine self....and what a relief that can be. We had a weekend that simply involved hanging out, talking, catching up. We ventured out for dinner, but other than that, it was just time meant for visiting. For me, it was wonderful.
Tonight, I am going to be having coffee and visiting with four of my other oldest friends. They too have been in my life for ages, and we have weathered all sorts of things together. I am myself when I am with them also. When we are together, the conversation goes from light to deep, jokes are shared, laughter is frequent, real "gut level" emotions are free to be shared, and tears can be spilled. We simply love one another.
I've always remembered this song from my Brownie Girl Scout days:
"Make new friends, but keep the old.
One is silver, and the other gold."
I'm so thankful for my friends of gold!
