A Reason, A Season, or A Lifetime

Many years ago (I can't remember exactly when, but I think it was before I moved to Indiana), I either read or heard this somewhere... "A friend comes into your life for a reason, a 'season', or a lifetime." The little verse that went with it went like this:

People come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. When you figure out which it is, you know exactly what to do. When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed outwardly or inwardly. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally, or some other means. They are there for the reason you need them to be. Then, without any wrong doing on your part or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away. Sometimes they act up or out and force you to take a stand. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled; their work is done. When people come into your life for a SEASON, it is because your turn has come to share, grow, or learn. They may bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have never done. They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it! It is real! But, only for a season. LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons; those things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person/people (anyway); and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life. It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant. - Author Unknown

It was one of those things that I took to heart when I heard it. It seemed like something that really fit me, as I was someone who seemed to bounce around and move a lot once I was on my own... and only a handful of friends stayed with me, it seemed.

With Facebook as popular as it it now, I find myself going back to this as I 'friend' people. Facebook gives us this ability to reconnect... but it makes me think why they were in my life to begin with. I have had such an amazing array of friends in my lifetime and I feel so lucky to have know the people I've been friends with. Even the ones that ended up only being a 'season'... I'm so glad they were part of my life. There are many I miss that I wish I could've stayed in touch with better... but maybe I wasn't supposed to.

But will Facebook ultimately change all that? I know I find myself wondering about people that I had forgotten about... the ones who aren't on Facebook... and I wonder why they're not and think it'd be fun to catch up. I know Facebook has put me back in touch with a lot of friends that I would have had no way of knowing how to find, otherwise. And it never ceases to amaze me where everyone has ended up in life.

The world is ever changing around us, and with all the advancing technologies and nifty (yeah, I said 'nifty') websites that better keep in touch, I find myself having to remind myself that none of this can replace genuine face to face time with a friend. I know I let some friendships go the wayward because I didn't remember that and I regret that. Granted, a lot of that is just 'growing up' - getting married and having a family - it tends to occupy time you once used to hang out with friends.

So to all my friends out there, thank you. Know that each and every one of you played a role in making me who I am today. I wish I could just have a big pow wow with all my friends from all my parts of life again... but until that comes a reality, at least we have Facebook.