Feisty, Faithful Friendships

So for today, I want to talk about Friendships.

My sister (who is more introverted than I and quite happy being so) has often accused me of having 1000 best friends.  Of course, no one can have that many closest, dearest friends.  But I DO love a lot of people.

Fortunately for me, interacting with people is actually part of my job.  I remember the disappointment on my dad's face when I told him I could never see myself locked behind a desk all day.  Some people prefer working in solitude. I would be most miserable!

Imagining your smiling faces is the only thing that helps me stay seated the hour or so it takes to compose a good post.  I write Embrace the Grace for many "friends" I may never meet.  But I imagine you clearly.

My first task today was checking on a few friends who live on or near the coast of NC.  Hurricane Florence is predicted to have a major impact when it makes landfall.  Living in FL makes me acutely aware of all the stress associated with being in the path of any hurricane.

I was relieved to hear that Becky (of Smithellaneous fame) will be evacuating with her husband and her little dog Toto, too.  Umm, wait.  Wrong storm.  Her dog Summer will accompany them to a much safer area.

Please join me in praying God's protection and grace over all those in the path of this monster storm.  Many of you were so faithful to pray for Florida last year when we were facing a potential category 5 hurricane.  It's a wonderful gift to live on a coastline.  But flooding and hurricanes and tornadoes are no small matter.

I want to also say, "Thank you" to so many faithful friends who have encouraged me with my new venture into Facebook Live.  If you had been in my office last week, you would have burst out laughing, I'm sure.

Meagan gave me another brief tutorial as I prepared to go live.  "Tap this button, then that one.  Stand up.  Sit down.  Hop on your left foot.  Hold your right hand over your heart and hope for the best...."  That's not exactly what she said but I was so nervous, I could hardly process all she was telling me.

Proper angle on the camera?  Check.  Props ready?  Check.  Notes visible?  Check.  Okay . . . reach over and hit the START button.  Long moment of hesitation.  Umm, let's go over the check list again.

I reached out about four different times to try and start the video.  Each time, my courage would fail.  I would draw back my hand and go directly into the nervous habit of pulling at my right eyebrow.  (It's a wonder I have any eyebrows left on that side.  Thank heavens for an eyebrow pencil that fills the gaps.)

It took almost ten minutes of this back and forth behavior before I finally hit the button.  START!  Nothing happened. START!  Still nothing.  Finally it dawned on me that tapping my computer screen was NOT going to start the video.  That requires the clicking of a mouse.  (Sigh.)

Friends were there right away to cheer my terrifying attempt.  How thankful am I?

In the title I mentioned not only faithful friends but feisty ones, too.  Feisty is the best word to describe my friend Anne.  She just moved to Heaven last Wednesday and my heart misses her terribly.

Anne had grown up in New Jersey.    Always a bit frail, her 92 year old body had wasted away to less than 100 pounds.  But her blue eyes were piercing and her mind was still sharp right up to the end.

Frank and I had the privilege of singing to her and praying with her the few minutes before her passing.  I say privilege because Anne had no blood relatives around her.  Garden Grove Church was carrying that role.  Along with a dear neighbor who became like a son.

Friendships really matter in our lives.  Choose wisely.

My feisty friend, Anne loved God with all her heart.  She would tell anyone who would stand still about her relationship with Christ.  She even told her doctor, "I'm old.  I'm dying.  You can't fix me.  But I've already paid to see you so let's talk about Jesus."  He would sit and listen while she talked.

Now my feisty friend, Anne is with her dearest friend, Jesus.  He's my friend too so one day I'll see Anne again.  I'll see my mom and my Grandma (whom Anne reminded me of.)

I guess that would be the best place to close this post.  A simple reminder . . .

Whether you consider yourself more faithful or more feisty, make sure your friendships are ones you'll enjoy for all of eternity.  Those of us who know Christ as Savior will never have to bid farewell permanently.

And for that I'm forever grateful!


How about You?  Do you have 1000 best friends?  Are you perhaps faithful and feisty?  I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comment section below . . .