From third until seventh grade, I had one best friend. Then, we moved, and I had to change schools. In my new class, I found another really close friend. The year we all graduated, I hosted a New Year’s Eve party and invited both of them. Since then, they, too, have become very good friends.
In fact, many years later, they might now be better friends with each other than I am with either of them. My older friend even asked the younger to be his best man. Over the years, I was sometimes annoyed when events were organized outside of our group chat with some more childhood friends in it. “How are they hanging out all the time, and I don’t even know?” But actually, I haven’t lost anything.
If I hadn’t introduced the two, I may not have stayed in touch with either of them. Now, we’re all part of the same group, and we meet at least twice a year.
I’m not sure why, but I think I wanted more credit. As if their connection somehow entitled me to…I don’t even know what. But of course, I’ve also lived my own life. We’re no longer geographically close, and I haven’t just missed but also chosen to miss many events as time went on.
I used to take great pride in telling the story of how we all met. But even the best credit expires. All I did was introduce them. The relationship they’ve built hence is entirely their own. And all three of us are richer for it.
Few things are ever lost, and you can’t waste anything in this life. Forget the credit. Focus on the fun. Heaven is not a yearbook, and there’s only so much of it you can have before the sun sets.
