Page 5: Which Kind of Friend Are You?

As I worked to create each page within this demonstration book, I utilized blessings sung and spoken at the John C. Campbell School during the week we taught class. This is an oldie but a goodie! I went a bit literal as I wrote SILVER is silver metallic ink, and GOLD in gold metallic ink. Sometimes a little sparkle makes things stand out better. Here are the lyrics of the song:

Make new friends
but keep the old.
One is silver
and the other gold.

– Joseph Perry 1903

Joseph Perry was a preacher known for writing songs and verse for his congregations to enjoy. He felt music brought concepts and faith to life. I have to agree. I have sung this tune in Girl Scouts, my sorority and philanthropic organizations, at workshops and folk schools. So basically, I have known this tune since I was about six…that’s a long time! And what a welcome message it brings to any table and any gathering.

One is silver..which is the new friend. These are people we have just begun to get to know. They have the power to help us ratchet up our selves, our thought processes, and how we see things. They bring new ideas and new perspectives to our lives to help us solidify what we value and believe. They lend us their enthusiasm as they see our lives with fresh eyes and wonder. They point out what they find fascinating about us, and they provide new opportunities for us to grow and serve.

One is gold…which is the old friend. The are the people who have known you for years. The ones who have stood by you, encouraged you through the hard times, the ones who have celebrated your triumphs and watched your pets while you were out of town. These are the bail money or shovel friends…the ones who would do anything for you, no questions asked. They have watched you become who you are and valued you when no one even knew you existed. They saw your light and helped you burn brighter over many, many, many years. They remind us of our value and listen to our bad jokes…no matter what.

There is one more element to this verse. It is an opportunity to remind ourselves about they type of friend we are with silver and gold friends. Do we encourage them, spur them towards greatness? Do we enthusiastically take an interest in their lives? Do the people who call us friend – new or old – enjoy being in our presence because we help them see themselves and the world through a wider sense? Do people want to get to know us because we are interesting, and interested in them? Or do we stick to the group, people, places we know because we are comfortable there and see no reason to span beyond what we can already control? All this from a quick tune I’ve sung for more than fifty years.

Silver and gold…which kind of friend are you? It’s a great question to ask ourselves, because in reality we always need to be both. And one last note…be sure to give thanks for your friends as they are the people who will bring a value to your life that no one else can provide. They help you become a better you.