Happy Retro Day! This is for anyone who has moved away from friends or watched their friends leave them behind. (I’ve been there, too.) I hope you find this helpful and encouraging. Enjoy! ~Halee

by RTF Staff Writer Catey Yuen

I’m a social person. I’ve always had a lot of friends since I was really young. But when I moved from California to Colorado two summers ago, all of that changed.

When you’ve lived in the same state your whole life, it’s easy to stay in contact with people. After all, most of the people you know, you’ve known for a while. Almost all of my friends came from the church I’d been going to for years. It required very little for me to meet new people and still hang out with the old ones.

Then we moved and it all changed.

I had to rely on emails and phone calls to be with friends. My sister (who is often quiet and reserved with people) immediately met a neighbor girl who she hung out with. My mom connected with people in the neighborhood, and I stayed at home, staring blankly at my computer screen, hoping someone would take pity on me and write.

I lasted over a whole summer and into the next school year before I met people. It’s easy to lose focus as it comes to friends, whether we have a lot or none.

Here are some tips I found helpful for the times when it’s hard to keep things in perspective.

Keep Jesus first

Jesus is the best friend out there- He’s always there, He’ll never betray you, and His advice is perfect. It sounds cliché, but talking to Jesus is way better than talking to anyone else. He’ll help you keep your priorities straight and be there for you.

Look at your heart

Have a focus and a purpose bigger than just hanging around with friends. Make sure your reasons for wanting a friend are right. I know that one of the main reasons I wanted to have a friend is because I always had friends, and I thought my life would be empty without them.

Treasure the friends you’ve made in the past

A real friend doesn’t leave another behind. If you no longer live close to a friend, still treasure their relationship and make an effort to talk to them.

Use the time you’re given wisely

God put you in the place you’re in for a good reason. Maybe you can use the extra time to get to know God better, practice your skills, and spend time with your family. You might find you enjoy that better than constantly being out with friends. If you do have friends, use the time you’re given to get to know them more and encourage each other.

Rely on God

He’s always there. He’ll get you through whatever times you’re going through.