Friends (And I Don't Mean the TV Show I Used to Love)
A couple of weeks ago, I was in a friend funk. What's a friend funk? It's when you feel lonely and sorry for yourself because you don't have any friends. Pretty pathetic, huh? And pretty ridiculous considering the fact that God has blessed me abundantly with friends. When I say abundantly, I don't mean that I am super popular and have gobs of friends lining up to spend time with me. I really mean that the Lord has blessed me with a smallish, yet perfect, number of true friends.
When I use the word "friend," I am referring to those special people in your life that you just connect with. People that just "get you" and you can be yourself with. The ones in your life that you can run to when you're ready to celebrate or needing to unload your troubles. The people that you don't have to put on a show for or try to impress. Those who will still stick around when they find out all the ugly things about you, like you don't really like kids or don't have a huge heart for the lost. (Not that I know anyone like that.) Maybe I'm the only one that can't be completely comfortable being the real me with just anybody, yet isn't good at pretending when things are going awry. I am truly blessed to have several true friends, which the Lord has gently reminded me of since my pity party I referred to earlier.
As I've been reminded of all my bosom buddies, I have realized what a beautiful mixture of people they really are. And they all bring out different sides of the real me. (I should quit saying "they" because most of the people I'm referring to are my dedicated and adoring blog readers - YOU.)
So, who are you?
Well, there's the always there friend, K. The one I can call up and blab to for 45 minutes for no reason. The one who I see frequently as we share many parts of our lives and love hanging out together - husbands, kids, and all. The one I once thought would never speak more than 3 words to me because she can be so quiet...but who, once the gap was bridged, has been a great and true friend. (I still do a lot of the talking, though. Sorry!)
Then we have the quirky, totally different than me (but not really) friend, D. She's the one who I immediately labeled a snob and was then horrified to find would be a coworker. Little did I know, she was nothing like what I expected, or could ever have imagined. She's my unique friend who seems so unlike me at first, but who can bring out my wild and weird side. (Wild is a relative term when referring to one of the most boring goody-two-shoes on earth, which I am.) D is probably the only person who can cuss at me for all the world to see and I just laugh. Beneath that somewhat sarcastic, "heathenish" exterior is someone who perseveres in love and faithfulness like few would. Someone who loves Jesus, though she calls me the "holy" one. Someone who gets me out of my normal, boring little shell and makes me think differently.
Next is the long-lost friend who is back in my life, J. Who would have ever thought after losing touch for so many years, that we would be hanging out together last weekend? And loving it? (Well, I loved it, and she SAYS she enjoyed it, so I'll leave it at that.) I just marvel at how God weaves our lives with others, and how two roads that were so close for a time could completely diverge yet meet up at the same sweet spot years later. We've always seemed very different in a lot of ways, J and I, but I don't really think we are. She has such a thankful and caring heart, such a peaceful and quiet spirit, such a contentment about her. Oh, to be like that someday.
Being fresh off an hour and a half conversation with this next friend, E, I am feeling very grateful for our relationship. And the fabulous bonus of this friendship is - we're family, too. So, there's no escaping me. You're my friend for life, whether you like it or not! Since E is several years younger than me, we're not at exactly the same stage of life (meaning I have 3 crazy kids and she doesn't - yet). But God is taking us down a very similar road in life, and we're facing many of the same struggles. We don't talk as often as I'd like, but when we do, it's going to be a late night. When I feel the most isolated from the world around me, E always understands. And she's the one friend who I know will come visit me at the uttermost parts of the earth.
I could go on and on. That's just how blessed I am. I could mention the new friends who I don't spend tons of time with, but who greatly challenge me in my walk with Christ, whether they know it or not - C, L and R. I'd love to talk about our couple friends, T and D, who we have been friends with for ten years, can go months without seeing, and then pick up like we were never apart. And A, my new friend who alternates between cracking me up and bringing me to tears with her honesty. And still there are several others, but I doubt anyone is still reading since I've been so long-winded. The point is - isn't it amazing how God uses so many beautifully different people at different times of our lives to love us, encourage us, challenge us, comfort us, make us laugh, and shape us into the person He wants us to be? And who each reflect Christ - our ultimate friend.
I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
When I use the word "friend," I am referring to those special people in your life that you just connect with. People that just "get you" and you can be yourself with. The ones in your life that you can run to when you're ready to celebrate or needing to unload your troubles. The people that you don't have to put on a show for or try to impress. Those who will still stick around when they find out all the ugly things about you, like you don't really like kids or don't have a huge heart for the lost. (Not that I know anyone like that.) Maybe I'm the only one that can't be completely comfortable being the real me with just anybody, yet isn't good at pretending when things are going awry. I am truly blessed to have several true friends, which the Lord has gently reminded me of since my pity party I referred to earlier.
As I've been reminded of all my bosom buddies, I have realized what a beautiful mixture of people they really are. And they all bring out different sides of the real me. (I should quit saying "they" because most of the people I'm referring to are my dedicated and adoring blog readers - YOU.)
So, who are you?
Well, there's the always there friend, K. The one I can call up and blab to for 45 minutes for no reason. The one who I see frequently as we share many parts of our lives and love hanging out together - husbands, kids, and all. The one I once thought would never speak more than 3 words to me because she can be so quiet...but who, once the gap was bridged, has been a great and true friend. (I still do a lot of the talking, though. Sorry!)
Then we have the quirky, totally different than me (but not really) friend, D. She's the one who I immediately labeled a snob and was then horrified to find would be a coworker. Little did I know, she was nothing like what I expected, or could ever have imagined. She's my unique friend who seems so unlike me at first, but who can bring out my wild and weird side. (Wild is a relative term when referring to one of the most boring goody-two-shoes on earth, which I am.) D is probably the only person who can cuss at me for all the world to see and I just laugh. Beneath that somewhat sarcastic, "heathenish" exterior is someone who perseveres in love and faithfulness like few would. Someone who loves Jesus, though she calls me the "holy" one. Someone who gets me out of my normal, boring little shell and makes me think differently.
Next is the long-lost friend who is back in my life, J. Who would have ever thought after losing touch for so many years, that we would be hanging out together last weekend? And loving it? (Well, I loved it, and she SAYS she enjoyed it, so I'll leave it at that.) I just marvel at how God weaves our lives with others, and how two roads that were so close for a time could completely diverge yet meet up at the same sweet spot years later. We've always seemed very different in a lot of ways, J and I, but I don't really think we are. She has such a thankful and caring heart, such a peaceful and quiet spirit, such a contentment about her. Oh, to be like that someday.
Being fresh off an hour and a half conversation with this next friend, E, I am feeling very grateful for our relationship. And the fabulous bonus of this friendship is - we're family, too. So, there's no escaping me. You're my friend for life, whether you like it or not! Since E is several years younger than me, we're not at exactly the same stage of life (meaning I have 3 crazy kids and she doesn't - yet). But God is taking us down a very similar road in life, and we're facing many of the same struggles. We don't talk as often as I'd like, but when we do, it's going to be a late night. When I feel the most isolated from the world around me, E always understands. And she's the one friend who I know will come visit me at the uttermost parts of the earth.
I could go on and on. That's just how blessed I am. I could mention the new friends who I don't spend tons of time with, but who greatly challenge me in my walk with Christ, whether they know it or not - C, L and R. I'd love to talk about our couple friends, T and D, who we have been friends with for ten years, can go months without seeing, and then pick up like we were never apart. And A, my new friend who alternates between cracking me up and bringing me to tears with her honesty. And still there are several others, but I doubt anyone is still reading since I've been so long-winded. The point is - isn't it amazing how God uses so many beautifully different people at different times of our lives to love us, encourage us, challenge us, comfort us, make us laugh, and shape us into the person He wants us to be? And who each reflect Christ - our ultimate friend.
I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Philippians 1:3-6
Yeah! I made the list. Ha ha ha. I check your blog several times a time. You are such a great writer!!! I am glad I finally talked, now I bet you wish I would stop talking sometimes!
ReplyDeleteSo, I check your blog every time I have my computer time, but somehow missed this post until today. Thank you for the kind words and the reminder of how God knits us together with others. I feel blessed to be able to share this part of the journey with you again. I did LOVE our night out as well, and hope that it is the first of many, although filling out that application may make it more difficult :) You are an amazing woman, with whom I feel known and heard (a rare feeling for me), and you challenge, comfort and encourage me...you always have. Thank you for the gift of your friendship.
ReplyDelete