I've had so many wonderful friends through the years. It is funny how you can be so close to certain people for a brief portion of time... you think it will last forever and then they seem to blow out of your life like the wind with the changing seasons. Others (who sometimes you wish would blow along) seem to have anchored down for the long haul :)
I read an interesting quote today. "God determines who walks into your life: it's up to you to decide who you let walk away, who you let stay, and who you refuse to let go."
In college I was always searching for that special group of friends. You know... a small co-ed group that was fiercely loyal to eachother and spent weekends taking roadtrips and building 'Real World' meets 'Friends' kind of memories that would last a lifetime. I would usually find that group but then, try as I might, it would only last for a few weeks, a month at most. I suppose changing classes and activities made it a difficult undertaking. All along I must have been comparing it to the relationships I had in high school. I was lucky to have a group of friends that still remains close to this day. We just celebrated our 10 year class reunion this past week. As we watched videos of our high school days it was a stark realization how much changes in just 10 short years. But at the same time when we all get together I remember how close we are, we are like family.
As many wonderful friends I've had, there comes a point in everyone's life when you realize that God alone is a friend that sticks closer than a brother. In your highs and lows, your brightest day and darkest hour... in the middle of the night when no one is awake enough to answer the phone, God is there...waiting. There to say, "I've been here all along". He alone understands our hurts, our pain, our struggles, our questions. He rejoices in our joy and mourns in our sorrow. Where else can you find a friend like that?

He refuses to let go.