A Reason, A Season, or a Lifetime

Recently my mom told me that you have friends for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. I've been pondering this statement for awhile now, and I just can't wrap my mind around it.

I've always held friendships close to my heart. If I was your friend I gave everything for you. That doesn't mean that we didn't have ups and downs, but I wasn't gonna give up on you. I wasn't gonna stop being your friend because of a disagreement.

However, I realized today that there are many friendships that I had growing up that I have romanticized. I expect things to be just like they were when we were little, or teenagers or even in college.

But that isn't true. We're all different. We've all changed. In reality, if we aren't willing to change with each other or accept the changes that others are making the season ends. Sometimes it's hard.

I have a hard time accepting that these friendships need to end. That it's okay if they do. I have a hard time letting go. I don't like losing people. Death is hard and scary for me, and honestly the only acceptable reason for a friendship to end. Even then if my friends who have passed go still come and hang out that would be my preference.

This has been a time of changing friendships for me.  I'm learning that this is okay. Each friendship was for a reason. It taught me something about myself. It helped me become who God wanted me to be, but it ended for a reason. I think we sometimes want to keep our friends in the bubble of when and how we knew someone, and we don't fit in that bubble.

I do hope that I have friends that I will have for a lifetime. Those relationships are few and far between, but they are friendships that are precious because they are rare. If all friendships lasted for a lifetime we wouldn't value them as much.

Friends are needed. We were created to have relationships, and God is teaching me to value them and grow with them.

It's beautiful...