“It takes a long time to grow an old friend.” John Leonard
We just returned from a delightful few days’ vacation with two lifelong friends who I first met in sixth grade. They can still remember what I wore the first day as a chubby, frightened student in a new school.
We were Beatlemaniacs together. During high school we ate homemade pizza together on Friday night pajama parties and watch silly spooky movies. We were in each other’s weddings. And shared so many joys and sorrows over the years.
It is the type of friendship where we don’t see or talk with each other for a bit, then take up right where we left off. Our poor hubbies didn’t get a word in the entire trip!
Developing and maintaining friendships does take time, but the result is priceless.
My prayer of gratitude this week is thankfulness for friends. All sorts of friends. I feel blessed.
Friends from college that even after these many years we can still laugh and when we get together, it is like we have never been apart. College friends we also share grief and tears too as life crashes in on each other.
Thank you to friends who have left me or in process of leaving me for a better place. I can’t wait to hug you all again in heaven.
Friends who encourage, pray, and inspire you to keep writing when you think no one will ever want to read your words. Then transform themselves into more than a critique group, but prayer partners. Even though we live hundreds of miles apart, we hold each other’s hearts in our hands.
Others who have shared their adult journey with me – marriage, parenting, struggles, and joy. Friends joined together in prayer and worship.
Friends like the one I just shared morning coffee with today and poured my heart out too. Thank you!
And online friends – though we have never met (though a few of you we have met in person and how very special that was!!), I feel we share something very deep – our intimate thoughts, fears, and experiences. God connects over cyberspace through friendship.
God created community and gave it to us to help us survive the rough spots, thrive in the good times by helping others, and arrive alive in celebration of our joys.
One of my favorite quotes:
In everyone’s life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit. Albert Schweitzer
How has friendship enriched your life?
I love seeing this photo of you and your long-time friends! I had a special group of friends like that since 6th grade, but unfortunately the past couple of years we had some major disconnections. I hate it because we thought we’d all be friends until death do us part. But sometimes it doesn’t work out that way. However, I am grateful for friends who are still in my life, and yes, my online friends too like you! I learn so much from you, Jean.
Friendships do come and go. We have seen some recently wane a bit. Sadly but does happen. I am grateful though for the good times and the memories. and yes for online friendships like you Lisa!!
How wonderful, Jean, to still be connected to friends from middle school! There’s something about shared history that deepens friendship. Our oldest friends date back to college days. We watched each others’ kids grow up, we’ve supported one another through the difficult seasons of life, we share inside jokes that no one else would understand. Praise God for equipping us with the capability of relationship with one another, to “rekindle the inner spirit” as Schweitzer said!
Friends sure are special gifts aren’t they?