Friends

 

Last night I read something a friend posted on Facebook -- and was moved to share it on my own page.

As often happens, the response was lukewarm.   Hey, I get it!  Unless it's a funny meme, an arresting photograph or less than 3 paragraphs, readers aren't inclined to linger.

Some of you 'young-uns' might not get this right now, but trust me. You will.

Fatherly Advice

A newlywed young man was sitting on the porch on a humid day, sipping iced tea with his father.

As he talked about adult life, marriage, responsibilities and obligations, the father thoughtfully stirred the ice cubes in his glass and cast a clear, sober look on his son.

"Never forget your friends," he advised.  "They will become more important as you get older."  Regardless of how much you love your family and the children you happen to have, you will always need friends.  "Remember to go out with them occasionally (if possible), but keep in contact with them somehow."

"What strange advice!" thought the young man.  "I just entered the married world, I am an adult and surely my wife and the family that we will start will be everything I need to make sense of my life."

Yet, he obeyed his father, kept in touch with his friends, and annually increased their number.

ca. 1957

Over the years, he became aware that his father knew what he was talking about.  In as much as time and nature carries out its designs and mysteries on a person, friends are the bulwarks of our life.

After 70 years of life, here is what he, I and you will have learned:

Time passes.

Life goes on.

Children grow up.

Children cease to be children and become independent.  And to the parents, it breaks their hearts but, the children are separated from their parents because they begin their own families.

Jobs, careers come and go.

Illusions, desires, attractions and interests ... weaken.

People can't do what they did physically when they were young.

Parents die, but you move on.

Colleagues forget the favors you did.

The race to achieve begins to slow down.

But, true friends are always there -- no matter how long or how many miles away they are.  A friend is never more distant than the reach of a need, intervening in your favor, waiting for you with their open arms or in some way, blessing your life.

When we started this adventure called LIFE, we did not know of the incredible joys or sorrows that were ahead.

We did not know how much we would need from each other.

Love your parents, your spouse, take care of your children -- but keep a group of good friends.

Thank y'all for being my friends!

💛

Hugs, Myra

BTW, my friend did not write this and admits he doesn't know who did.

If anyone knows, I'm happy to credit them.