One of the most loved and most watched TV series was “Friends.” For many college kids and young people in general they did not want to miss an airing of “Friends.”

What the characters acted out in an apartment with their neighbors each week seemed to replicate real life and the messes young people get in, not to mention the laughs they needed at that age. They helped one another get through everything. That was why it was called “Friends.”

There is a saying penned or spoken by Francesco Guicciardini that goes, “Since there is nothing so well worth having as friends … never lose a chance to make them.”

I have to tell you, having a true friend is a gift from God. If you have one, do not take them for granted.

I have, like many of you, had lots of friends throughout my lifetime. Unfortunately, I found out some were not true friends. On the other hand, I have had some of the best friends that can be found.

I have also found the better the person, the better the friend.

I lost two of my closest friends to death when they were both 46 years old. Though I have been blessed to live 25 years longer than they did, I have never forgotten them or their friendship. They both were true friends to me. I still miss them.

I think we are meant to have friends, and the more you have, the better you get through life.

Life often shows how people want to be your friend when things are going well but it does not take long for friends to scatter when it is not. That is when you find out who your real friends are.

Others quit being a friend if you do not share their political views. That is so silly to me.

The one saying I heard many years ago represents a group of kids I grew up with in the Kiddville community of Clark County. I do not have any idea who said it. It goes, “With clothes the new are the best, but with friends, the old are the best.”

The little Baptist church I attended must have taught us about friendship as much as they taught us about morals. Evidently, the two go hand in hand.

The bond the kids have who grew up in that small community of Kiddville has been shown many ways throughout the years. We truly have love for one onother. We will drop everything to go to a funeral to be with our friends in times of need. If we see one another out it is as though we are kids again as we reminisce of our fun times we all had while growing up and going to church together.

We were blessed that the elders of that community let us know we were important to them through their love for us. They did such a great job raising us along with our parents. If anyone acted up, they would get after them. If they acted really bad, the parents would be told and that would be all it would take.

I have had a dream of getting everyone together again back in the church where we grew up. On Oct. 6, we are planning to “pack the house” and worship together as we did many years ago at the Kiddville Baptist Church.

I am getting so excited to see everyone. We are not getting any younger and our chance to worship again together is becoming slimmer with each passing year. If you  know anyone who grew up in the Kiddville area of Clark County, make sure they know about this.

I know the dear people who taught us about life will be proud of us for not forgetting what they said. All who come should bring a dish or two and plan to stay after church to eat in the fellowship part of the church. Bring your own drinks.

I am sure many of us have made new friends but we never forgot the old because the new are silver but our Kiddville friends are gold.

Sue Staton is a Clark County native who grew up in the Kiddville area. She is a wife, mother and grandmother who is active in her church, First United Methodist Church, and her homemakers group, Towne and Country Homemakers.