Friends

A gush of love just saturated my heart as I thought of my friends. Growing up, I always had a group of best friends. I can still remember laughing so hard that my stomach muscles would ache for hours. My friendships were a top priority to me as this was an area that God used to help me learn to love people, really love them. I just remembered a funny story which I'm sure you all can relate to my personality....I would make friends over the phone whom I had NEVER met in person. Someone would introduce me by phone to a friend of theirs and then a new relationship was born. I spent hours, and hours and hours building friendships.
Now, keep in mind, these were not like boyfriend relatioships although boys were involved....they were more so- just deep, true friends. Friends got me through literally the most difficult times in my life. At 13 when my parents got a divorce (Anna is 13 right now...) my entire home life fell apart, but God used friendships to carry me through. I socialized and just poured my heart and soul into my friends. Oh, how I loved my friends in school. Do any of you remember when 3-way calling first came out? Oh my gosh! We'd have a ball with this one. My dear friend Joy and I would have "Gospel Hour" with another friend. This was just a fun name for the times when we'd discuss God. I knew sooooo little then, just had such a passion to talk about Him. To this VERY day and moment- I still have such a heart's passion for my friend Joy whom I met at 13 years old. Her mother had an impact on my life that brings tears to my eyes. Undoubtedly, my faith is where it is today because of the spark that God allowed this family to put in my heart. Thank you, Jesus!!!! Her a mother taught her a type of love that I had never seen...it was gentle, joyful, fun, encouraging, warm....warm. Her mother's hugs were like none that I'd ever known before. No one had ever squeezed me tight and just embraced me for exactly who I was...no strings attached. I absolutely loved Joy's laughter and her mom's laughter. My mom never laughed like that with me and I needed to see that example.
The tears are flowing because I have been blessed from a very young age with godly, wonderful, lovely friends. This was just the beginning of years to come that would be rich and full of precious friends. Highschool came and went quickly with friends that supported me unconditionally during the most humiliating time of my life- highschool pregnancy. I don't EVER, EVER remember them looking at me or treating me any differently than "before I was pregnant." We still hung out and would giggle as we got ready for a highschool basketball game. We just carried on...Kara and her cute big belly and all!
All of you...my friends.... I honor you and thank you today for your loyalty, kindness, encouragement, love, forgiveness, mercy and grace towards me. We've laughed together, cried together, rejoiced together, served one another, and shared our hearts with trust and loyalty. How blessed I have been to have YOU in my life. I would not be the woman I am today without you as tools in the Lord's hands. Thank you for investing in my life. I'm closer to some of you than others, which is totally cool...but no matter who you, if you are reading this blog, just KNOW that I love you and care deeply for you. We all live such busy lives and I know we can't spend the time together that we'd like to. (If you are reading this and thinking "Oh, she can't be talking about me"...well, you are wrong. I am talking about YOU. EVERY ONE of YOU!)
The cool thing about all of you,my friends, is that you are all uniquely YOU, and I connect with you in whatever way God ordains. I love that Christ is the center of our friendships and we can get to the heart of matters quickly even if we haven't spoken for months, weeks days or hours....God is sooooo awesome! Even though we are busy raising kiddos, loving on our hubbies, serving our churches, etc...We will remain close in heart, faithful to uplift and edify one another and LET'S JUST PLAN a BIG 'OLE PARTY in ETERNITY, baby!!! Teeheee!
I love you all,
K