The reason I’m writing this could just be because we miss people around the holidays, but in reality we just miss the memories. But, a lot of things tend to be left unsaid, and I have some things to get off of my chest. I hope everything is going well for you, and your life is going the way you want it to right now. I pray that your relationship with Christ is stronger than it has ever been, and that you’ve made as great of friends as I have.

Sometimes I have to remind myself that I am who I am because we aren’t friends anymore. No matter the reason we lost touch, there’s no way for us to just forget about someone that impacted our lives. I think that, the more experience we have in the real world, the more we realize just how dramatic we were in high school. The smallest rumor could ruin a friendship in less than a day. I wish that I had learned this at a younger age so that so many relationships hadn’t been ruined, but that wasn’t God’s plan for me or you.

I have found the best of friends in my first semester of college. In the first few months of having a “clean slate” I have met the most down to earth and caring people. Now that I have experienced a forever kind of friendship, I understand why all of the others didn’t last. They weren’t meant to. But that doesn’t mean that they didn’t matter or that I shouldn’t care that those friendships are gone. The memories made will be cherished forever, but sometimes we have to move on.

There is a verse in Matthew, Matthew 6:14-15 that states: “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” As I read this a few weeks ago, I realised how much hatred I held in my heart for some of you still. And I felt guilty, because though I couldn’t forgive people who I believed had done me wrong years ago, Jesus was able to instantly forgive the men who beat him, spit on him and even nailed him to the cross. I must learn to forgive, and hope that you do the same as me.

All the memories made were not in vain, because without them I may be at a completely different place in my life. So, thank you for helping to build my character. Without us losing the friendships we had, I would have a completely different life, and honestly, I like where I’m at right now and I’m sure you do, too. So I wish you the best and hope that you have the best year of your life.