Silver and Gold

I find myself sitting on a comfy leather couch, laughing so hard my stomach hurts. My face is sore from smiling for the past three hours. Here I am, surrounded by the friends I grew up with. We talk and tell stories as if no time has passed, when in reality, it’s been four months since we’ve all been in the same room. I know that in a few days’ time, I’ll be back at CCU with my roommates, classmates, and friends.  

Balancing all these connections and relationships is difficult. I can feel guilty making new memories and inside jokes with friends in college, knowing I haven’t responded to the texts of those back home.  

The girls I grew up with know me better than anyone else. We went through all the awkward phases of puberty together, met each other’s first boyfriends, and shared our deepest, darkest secrets. But the friends I’ve made here know who I am right now. They’re growing with me in this fast-paced season of life. We spend hours together studying, hiking, and finding cute coffee shops. We’re in the trenches of class together.  

Sometimes, it feels as though I can only have one. Like, if I pour into my friends back home, I’m missing out on relationships here, and vice versa. And yet, the simple and slightly annoying song from my childhood comes back to mind. Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver, and the other’s gold.  

I don’t have to choose. Sure, it takes some work, but investing in these friendships is worth it. Plus, it looks a little different from 400 miles away. My friends back home and I try to FaceTime weekly, even though we often forget or get busy. No matter how long we go without talking, we always pick right up where we left off. There are certain friends that you don’t have to text every day to stay connected. 

We are relational creatures, and those relationships come in all different shapes and sizes. So, next time you go home and spend time with those you love, just sit and enjoy it. You don’t have to feel guilty for missing people from school, or for not keeping in touch with friends at home better. Give yourself some grace and live in fellowship, as God created it to be.