A friend died last week.
After hearing the news, memories flooded me – John installing a ceiling fan with my husband with a “blind leading the blind” type of sit com hilarity and for many years that fan rattled every time they turned it on, early morning coffees together on Saturday morning, solving the world’s problems and John showing us his new car while proudly announcing it was time to find a wife. I smile remembering John.
Valuing our friends shouldn’t only come when we lose someone.
The past few years I have been trying to reconnect with friends from the past. When I wrote my new years resolutions this year, that wasn’t one of them – I have added it so once again friendship will be a priority for me. Making time for friends will be a permanent addition to my list.
Two of my best friends met in kindergarten. I was the latecomer joining them in sixth grade. Wendy and Chrissy are lifelong childhood companions, now more like special sisters to me.
My friend Nancy is my role model for being a terrific grandmother. Elma and Barb taught how to be a kind mother.
Johnnie, Laura, Clella and Karen, writer buddies full of encouragement, guidance and support.
College companions – Herb, Kathy, Don, Margie, MaryAnn, Jan- who have walked with us through the ups and downs of life.
I received a Christmas card from a roommate from college that I haven’t seen probably in 30 years. She wants to get together this summer. Yes is my answer. I will make time to reconnect.
I asked a group of people a few years ago – do you have many lifelong friends? Most of them replied no. Many said they don’t take the time to nurture friendships. A few said the end result was loneliness.
This walk in life is long, treacherous and sometime scary. The two friends walking on the road to Emmaus experienced together as their world turned upside down by the death of Jesus, then set right again by his presence. God gives us friends, companions for our journey – a gift I don’t want to neglect or ignore.
“A wise person wins friends.” Proverbs 11:30b (NLT)
“Friends come and friends go, but a true friend sticks by you like family.” Proverb 18:24 (The Message)
“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work.” Ecclesiastes 4:9 (NIV)
“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command.”. John 15:11-14 (NIV)
Do you any lifelong friendships? How will you nurture friendship in your life this year?
What an insightful blog! I am definetely going to follow you! Glad to have visited and will be back. God bless, Deb
I have a friend for 50 years. We met in the first grade. We keep in touch by email every week. We live 1600 miles apart so only see each other rarely. But we enjoy the moments when we do. She is one of the greatest blessings of my life!
This summer I got to see college buddies and “our first real job” friends — dear ones I hadn’t seen in years. I’m overjoyed that we reconnected with deep conversations as if we hadn’t been separated for so long. I just praise God for our times together.
And you know how much I love the Kindred Heart Writers*
Welcome Fran to my blog. I did visit and left a comment on yours.
Glad to see your comment Tami. I really think technology helps in keeping in touch. Several of my old childhood friends have reconnected with me through facebook and you and I have gotten to know each other better there also.
Interesting post Jean. As someone with a little less “life experience” I hope I can keep my friends for many years like you. It’s hard at this point in my life because we are all so busy and making changes. Thankfully, I find that technology like facebook, blogging and texting make it a little easier. It’s not the same as connecting in “real life” but it will have to do for now! 🙂
Hi Jean,
I found you on Networked blogs on facebook and thought I would pop in. Very interesting reading. I subscribed so I can come back and read more.
Come visit me when you have a chance,
http://franbabij.blogspot.com