It was a sweet gesture—my favorite Starbucks drink on my desk as I started work for the day. The person who picked it up had made an extra effort to arrive just before I did so it was still hot. She added an extra touch of a frown face.

It doesn’t seem like a kind gesture, but it was. It was a simple way to say, “I’ll miss you.”

I walked into her office and jokingly accused her of wanting me to have a bad day, since I’d have to look at a frown face all day. Of course, I finished the drink quickly, but I left the cup on my desk for the rest of the day. It was a reminder of the cost of friendship seasons. People come and go, but we can appreciate them in our lives for an appointed time.

Friends come and go for a variety of reasons. Some seasons more reasonable than others. Some seem more lasting than others. Some seem more abrupt than others. Appreciate those who are in your life right now. Say thanks in small and big ways. Cultivate what’s in front of you. Plants seeds for the future.