Friendship

Good Friday morning.

I did it. Made it through my second full week of blogging. Jen, thanks so much for your kind words. I’m glad I make your heart smile. That sounds like something I might say.

Posting five days a week is proving to be a most interesting exercise for me. I think all but two days, including today, I have sat down at my computer not having a clue what I would share. I pray. I read my Bible. I muse. And then I sit and start to write. Start tapping on the ole keys. I soon scrap one idea and move on to another. Write a few sentences. Thoughts begin to take shape. Oh, this is good. But then suddenly it doesn’t seem so hot. Or maybe it is but it’ll take a whole lot longer than I have at the moment . So, I set it aside for another day. I try to think of something short. Simple. Quick.

I don’t seem to think short thoughts. Definitely not a quick writer. That’s okay. All the while I’m writing – like now – I’m reflecting on my theme, “When I Remember.” Suddenly I’m reflecting on something of God’s character, His attributes, His work in my life and those around me. Reminded of His love, His goodness, His kindness . . . even His discipline. For this stems from His kindness as well.

Beautiful day in Coeur d’ Alene. A dear friend – a long-time friend from Seattle – came for a visit yesterday and will be with me through the afternoon. We have a lot of history, Terri and I. We attended the same church for years in Seattle. Often hiked and camped at Mt. Rainier before I moved to Tennessee. She hates coffee. Loves tea. I hate tea, love coffee. But what sweet fellowship we’ve shared over the last fifteen years or so as we sit across from one another, pouring out our hearts and our lives. Catching up, yet ever surprised how little it takes.

Hearts knit together through so many seasons, both literally and figuratively. We just don’t need to say a lot to feel heard. Understood. My friend is a treasure.

Among the most blessed aspects of close friends is they see how you’ve matured in Christ. I don’t see it sometimes. “Almond Days” remind me of my weakness, my shortcoming, my propensity to sin, to falter. And yet, I know that all this proves I’ll never stop needing a Savior.

But a friend sees how I’ve grown. Even in my weakness, she sees my desire to grow more like Christ. She sees that I am not in the same place I was the last time we saw each other – even if the last place was a good place. She sees the value in the struggles I’ve faced even when I’m hard pressed to see them at the moment. I may be still struggling in such and such an area, but she says, “Remember when you used to –?” I say the same to her.

Well, I could write about this all day – that is, the gift of a friend. But I must run. She and I are headed out the door to play.

Have a great weekend all. See you back on Monday.

Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of one’s friend springs from his earnest counsel. (Proverbs 27:9)