Friends

There are the people in your life who are your friends. The friends who are there for whatever phase of life you are in now. You are friends who do stuff. You know that they probably won't continue on past this phase. They are kindred spirits and meant to be cherished.
There are friends who you chat with when you see them at church. They get the update on that date you had this past weekend and how your botany class is going or how the latest job drama is playing out. They, much like the friends who do stuff, will probably fade out as this phase of your life ends. They are kindred spirits and are meant to be cherished.
There are the acquaintances, the colleagues, the committee members, and the neighbors, maybe not quite kindred spirits, but meant to be cherished just the same.
And some people are your best friends. They are the friends you can count on in every phase of your life. Whether you see them often or only talk to them once a year, you have a connection and it's probably going to last the rest of your lives. They are kindred spirits, bosom friends, and are rare and meant to be cherished. 
All people can teach us lessons about life and about ourselves, they are there for that phase of your life for a reason and should be cherished. Don't be sad it didn't turn out the way you thought, don't be angry that you didn't stay as close as you had hoped, be glad they were there and cherish the memories you have. God is always with you and he is always placing people in your life for a reason.

All this writing about friends, makes me think of the song from Wicked

"Because I  knew you, I have been changed for good."