The more we get together, together, together,

The more we get together, the happier we’ll be.

’Cause your friends are my friends,

and my friends are your friends.

The more we get together, the happier we’ll be.

The lyrics of this children’s song remind me of military friendships. Often when our family moved to a new duty station, I had names of people to call, or someone had been given my name to call me upon arrival.

Friends of friends became my friends. When I met Susan, I did not know if we would have anything in common. We seemed very different. However, she was a good friend of my friend Ruth, so I thought chances were that Susan and I could become good friends as well. I was right! Susan became, and remains, a great friend. We found that we had much in common and Susan is someone with whom I do not allow too much time to pass before making a connection.

Paul’s journey to Derbe and Lystra put him in contact with a young man named Timothy. Scripture informs us that Timothy’s reputation preceded him, no doubt because he had friends in adjoining communities. Paul heard about him through his friends and wanted to take him along on his journey.

Paul mentions Timothy several times throughout his writings. Two books of the New Testament are letters Paul wrote to Timothy. Over time, Timothy became like family to Paul. Paul addresses him as “my child,” a close and intimate term of endearment. Theirs was a relationship grounded in their common faith in Christ.

You do not know which assignment will bring friends who will eventually become like family. The song is true though, “The more we get together, the happier we’ll be.”