Seasons Of Friendship

Seasons of Friendship

He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds.

We became good friends toward the tail end of high school, strengthened our friendship in college, and continued it into young adulthood. Yet by the time my first daughter was born and my second was on the way, we’d drifted apart. Our messages to each other—once frequent—were few and far between; her promises to visit the next time she was in the area never materialized.

Even as I felt the weight of our disconnect, I saw her posting with other mutual friends on social media: talking about their birthdays, seeing them when they were home on holiday, attending their weddings, or holding their children. When I saw those posts on my feed, I hurriedly clicked “like” and scrolled past in an effort not to feel the full weight of envy and sadness. At the same time, I reasoned with myself that I was an adult and could rise above the hurt I felt. I rationalized why time and distance had separated us. And I tried to move on, as I felt she must have moved on.

It’s one thing to have a friendship end suddenly, but the slow slide back into acquaintanceship is another kind of grief. I struggled through anger, bitterness, and sadness before finally arriving at acceptance. The progression was gradual, but remembering the friend I have in Jesus helped heal my hurt. When we are in pain, he is near. With grace and mercy, he bolsters our flagging spirits and smooths the rough edges of our wounds.

It took me many years to realize that while some friends are truly lifelong relationships, many others are present only for a season. Though I still care for my friend and would love to catch up sometime, I’ve quit longing for the closeness we once had. I appreciate the influence she had in my life during that season, recognizing how her friendship was a gift. Her strength, independence, and fearlessness helped me to be brave. Her sense of humor rescued me in the depths of my grief over my sister’s death. Her friendship was a treasure then, and it’s a treasure now—even if it’s just a part of the memories I hold dear.

— Kristin

— Today’s Act of Friendship —

Reflect on friends who were in your life for a season, thanking God for the gift of that friendship when you needed it most.