“Thank you for being a friend, traveled down the road and back again.

Your heart is true, you’re a pal and a confidant

And if you threw a party, invited everyone you knew

You would see the biggest gift would be from me and the card attached would say

Thank you for being a friend”

These are the lyrics from a song by Andrew Gold that was the theme song for a popular 1980’s sitcom called the “Golden Girls.” The show ran for seven years and syndicated reruns can still be seen on many networks.  It depicted 4 very funny ladies who shared a home in south Florida. They also shared joys, sorrows, celebrations, misadventures and most of all, friendships.

What is a friend? A friend is a special gift from God; a companion who travels the road of life with you.

Some friends are with you only for a season, while you’re in a particular grade at school or while you work at a job. They can be the parent of another toddler in your “Mommy and Me” playgroup with whom you share the challenges of potty training.  You may meet a friend at a grief support group when you’re both trying to redefine your lives after a terrible loss. A seasonal friend can really be a blessing.

Other friendships last a lifetime.  These are like rare and precious jewels. I have enjoyed hundreds of acquaintances but only a handful of true friends. The older I get, the more I cherish these lifelong friendships. Some I met in high school, others in college and all have been with me through the twists and turns of my life journey.

They have been with me as I embarked on new chapters. Like showing up at my home before sunrise on the morning that I left for college. Or coming to my senior voice recital and applauding wildly after each Italian, French or German aria, even though they did not speak the languages – they were just there for me. Of course they were there to help me into my wedding gown amidst giggles and tears. Another friend who was a nurse came by my home to give me tips on breastfeeding my fussy newborn son.

The joy of friendship comes from sharing and I have had the privilege of being there for them in their special life moments also; marriages , divorces, births, funerals, new jobs, layoffs, spectacular successes and colossal failures. You see a friend stands with you in good times and bad; on the mountaintops and in the valleys. As Proverbs 17:17 says, “A friend is always loyal and a brother is born to help in time of need” (NLT).

A true friend always knows the correct answer to the question “Does this make me look fat?”  She even knows what you look like without your makeup. She accepts your strengths as well as your weaknesses and helps you to do the same. She even cares enough to confront, when necessary.

A true friend doesn’t have to call you every day. Some of my dearest friends live in other parts of the country. We may only see each other once or twice a year. But when we do connect, it’s like we’ve never been apart. Yes, a friend is one of God’s greatest gifts.  As Donna Roberts wrote, “A friend knows the song in my heart and sings it to me when my memory fails.” True friendships take effort and dedication. They are cultivated over time and grow more precious with each passing year. If you want a good friend, be a good friend.  If you appreciate the friends in your life, let them know it.

To my BFFs I’d like to say, “Thank you for being a friend!”