Make New Friends But Keep the Old

Were you ever a Scout? I had the privilege of being a Brownie and Girl Scout when I was a young girl. It is a great organization. If you were or maybe even weren’t, you might happen know the Scout song “Make new friend but keep the old. The new are silver and the old are gold.”? The words ring true to me now that I am older more than ever. Friends are a true treasure. Verse one says: “Make new friends, but keep the old. The new is silver, and the old is gold. A circle is round, it has no end. That’s how long, I will be your friend.” Comforting, isn’t it? Friendship without an end.

Well, that is certainly true. I am still friends with some of my old Scout girls, neighborhood friends, Sunday School classmates, and school friends. Thanks to Facebook I have been able to reconnect and keep up with classmates from elementary school to college. Those childhood friendships are deeply imbedded in my heart. It had been years since I had seen some of my old classmates but when I did it was as if time had stood still. The friendship was still there. When we wrote “friends forever” in yearbooks little did I realize that we really did mean it. Those people are still my friends.

The next verse in the song says: “A fire burns bright, it warms the heart. We’ve been friends, from the very start.” True. Some people are immediate friends a. That verse encompasses not only the old friends but the friends I have since made. Some people I just have a connection with instantly. Don’t you? We just “click” right away and become close friends, like two peas in a pod. God orchestrates those relationships. They might not have been as long as the childhood ones, but they are very, very strong. The reason for the strength is that God is in the center of these relationships. He gives us the friends we need, when we need them. Through my years of owning a Christian Bookstore I met many wonderful people. Many of the authors still maintain a friendship with me. In other areas of my life I have met people that have become like family because our friendship is so deep. The next verse says: “Silver is precious, Gold is too. I am precious, and so are you. You help me, and I’ll help you and together we will see it through.”

How true! We often get through things leaning on friends. Friends help friends when they ask and even when they don’t. Friends have a way of knowing when another friend needs help. Sometimes it might just be a card or a hug. Other times it might be a conversation. Whatever it is, friends help friends. Even if I haven’t spoken to a friend in years, I will be there for them if they need me. Whether a new or old friend is in need, don’t you want to help?

What kind of friend are you? Do you think you would be friends with yourself? Do you like the way you treat your friends? The Bible says in Luke 6:31 “And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.” We should all be the type of friend to others that we want to have ourselves. One of the best things you can do for your friend is pray. Lift your friends up to God. Your old and new ones. Ones you have had since you were little and ones you have just made. Friendship is a precious gift.

Yes, we all need friends and can never have too many. Like the song says our friends are like silver and gold. Precious. The song closes with: “Across the land, Across the sea, Friends forever, We will always be.” Ahhh, such a nice sentiment. No matter if close by, still in the same town, or far away in another state or country, solid friendships last. Call a friend today. Check on them. Say hello. Don’t take your friends for granted. Take them for coffee!