New Friendships

Over the last month and a half, we have said goodbye to many of the folks we call "friends" here at Osan. It is bittersweet. Bitter, because who knows if we will see them and when. Sweet, because we shared some good times and made some great memories. On a happier note, we are making new friends almost daily. There are always new faces, and it's easy to pick them out, because we are a very small community. I was reading in one of my devotional books just the other day, and the topic was friendships, and the cultivation of them. The author, Emilie Barnes, speaks of friendship-making, and how important it is to teach our children those skills. I realize that we have a vast opportunity to do that as a family who moves often. As a mother, I can make that a positive experience, or I can make it difficult; it all depends on my attitude and outlook on the situation. I can also teach my children that yes, friends come and go, but Jesus is always there. He will never leave you! Proverbs 18:24 tells us there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

"If a man does not make new friends as he advances through life, he will soon find himself left alone. A man should keep his friendship in constant repair." Samuel Johnson