Friendship is such a beautiful thing. Yesterday, I read this post and it has really got me to thinking on friendships that I have had over the years and what kind of friend that I have been. When I was in college, I can remember having many many friends. I had a lot of friends whom I loved dearly. They came in different forms and I shared different parts of my life with them. Then when I went overseas for 4 years I widened my friendships even more as I made new friends at each and every turn. Everyone always used to laugh and say if you ever want to know something or how someone is doing, ask Laura. I can remember someone in the states was wanting to know a phone number for someone 30 minutes away and they emailed me 7,000 miles away to get it. Funny huh? I have always heard the phrase that some friendships are for seasons and some are for a lifetime. (Totally paraphrased by me!) And I used to always fight the whole friends are for a season thing. I never wanted to let anyone go. But as I get older I have learned that phrase is completely true. I have found that I cling to those few friends who know me best. The ones who I don't have to just answer, "fine". While I still have those that I keep in touch with, (mainly through FB!) but it's those who I share those secrets with, my true inner heart and I can be completely honest with, those are the ones that last a lifetime. One I have had for 20 years, one 15 years, one 10 years and one 4 years. Each one is special and I have a friendship with them that is unique above all else. I sometimes wonder if Father is going to keep them in my life for the rest of my days or just a really long season. But one thing I know, I am thankful for the gift of friendship. While it is not always pretty, as it says in Proverbs, iron sharpens iron. That is my prayer for each of my friendships.
And as I enter a new phase in my life of being in the states and making new friends, I know that I need to be open to Father putting someone new in my life, a friend who is in person!! Each of the friends that mentioned above are either in a different city, different state, different part of the country or all the way across the world. I love them dearly and I honestly don't want to open up to someone new. These people already know me, why try again you know? But yet, I know that I must be open. Father is always wanting us to sharpen each other. So, my hands are wide open today, accepting what Father chooses to give me.
I really don't know where I was going with this post but as I was cleaning this morning, I just felt reflective on friendships and oh so thankful that Father has blessed me with these precious women in my life.
Okay, back to cleaning.... I love this life I have! :)
4 comments:
I know exactly what you mean!! I, too, have those friends that have been with me for decades, and those only a few months, but the ebb and flow is crazy amazing to me!!
This is so funny to me that we touched on the whole friend thing today while we were chatting. It's so good to be able to see you a little more regularly now:) I'm very grateful for our friendship!
I totally understand. I have been struggling with making friends here in the Nashville area. My best friend lives an hour and a half away, I can be completely transparent with her, but both our lives are busy and we don't get to see each other much. I have been in Tennessee for about 6 months now and the only people I have met have been the families that I babysit.
So very true! I've been super thankful for the Lord's provision of relationships in my world. Especially the ones that have loved me through my jelly bracelet and Zach Morris loving days :)
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