Of friends and family...

Friends and family- the two things that I am convinced God created to complete us (other than our relationship with Him).  Family, some very close, some painfully distant.  Friends, people that God sent to interact with us for seasons.  No one knows why someone suddenly comes into another's life.  Chance meetings that are anything but form the foundation for a lifetime of friendship.  Intersections that God ordained are seeminly innocent at the time, neither party realizing what the future holds.  Family is different.  God clearly lines up children with parents.  Birth is a real intersection, visible to the world.

After saying this, I reflect back to when I met Kyle.  A hot July night in  1983 that seemed different from the start.  From the time I saw him walk into the skating rink, I knew he was special.  When I met him later that night, I knew after talking to him for only a few minutes that he was everything I thought I wanted at 14.  So, while I mention intersections that seem innocent and neither party realizes their gravity, I must admit that this wasn't true for me.  I remember saying to friends at the time that I was going to marry that guy.  I was right.

I have friends that I know God sent me for a reason at a particular point in my life when I would need them.  Not all have remained in my life, but I know that for that time, I was supposed to be there.  I think back to high school friends- so important at the time, so invisible to me now other than Facebook.  People from our early married life that have taken such different paths, now no longer a part of my life in any real way.  Work friends that I became close with through circumstance...so many of them whose names I struggle to remember.  And friends collected over the years from the different churches we have served in or attended...I do remember more of these, but still don't stay in contact  very well with them.  The people I would count as true friends...lifelong friends- they come from a variety of places.  They have the common tie of our faith in Christ- that is foundational.  Proverbs 18:24 says, "Friends come and friends go, but a true friend sticks by you like family".  I think that explains why those are still in our lives.  True friends...with whom you have connections that don't make sense to others and that is ok.  These are also those friends that you don't keep score with-  who called last, who texted first, who had the other one over for supper, who invited the other to the movies or shopping last...you get the idea.  I have a couple of these friends, but only a couple.  Friends  that you can call or email or visit once a day, once a week, or even once a year and the quality of the relationship doesn't suffer.  This is special.  This is rare...

If you are reading this and think you are one of those speical friends, you most likely are.  You  know me well enough be reading my blog, you care enough to read it, and  you know we are close.  I appreciate and value this friendship so much!!  If you know this isn't you (because you stumbled upon this blog and don't know me at all, perhaps!), then think to those that  you are friends with.  Be that true  friend.  You are valuable in the life of those that love you.  Be that close and true friend.  Someone out there loves  you and needs you.  Thinking of friends and family....some of God's greatest gifts to us here on earth.  

Be blessed....