Friday, April 18, 2008

Friends

I just wanted to give a shout out to all my peeps that read my blog!! Yesterday I got to spend some special time with old friends and a newer friend. When J and I first got married and moved back to Rome, I longed for my truest college friends that I missed so dearly. At times, I didn't know what I was going to do without them. BUT, I prayed for new friends. For a very long time. . . I told J "where are all the people our age in this town?" We joined a church family and I became friends with many of his family friends he knew growing up, but. . I never felt like they truly "got me" like many of my friends do. I was sad at times and longed for REALLY true friends that got me, were kindred spirits, and I knew would pray for my deepest problems, and I could pray for their needs as well.

During the next few years, I started meeting in a Bible Study with an old friend I grew up with, and it re-ignited our friendship and to this day we are raising two sisters that we did not have biologically. . Now, tell me God did not give me the desires of my heart? I love that. God has put the two of us in a position as mothers and friends. It's awesome because we can just pick up where we left off. That's a true friend.

I love spending time with my friends from college because it is the same feeling,
we just start up, as if we were never apart. I miss them dearly and long for our time together each Labor Day.

Then, I have newer friends that I have come to love dearly, one in particular that has shown me how odd it can be when two people are so alike, but not biologically related. I mean even down to using the same two types of shampoo that we alternate every two weeks. Who does that? My friend and I do. . J has even told me, "don't even tell me anymore of the things that you two do alike, because it is just getting weird." We don't even realize these things until after the fact, it's not as if we copy each other. . it. just. happens. God thank you for giving me kindred spirits I longed for, for so long.

In reading, Don't Waste Your Life, by John Piper, I came across this quote. "The gift of seeing loved ones highlights God's wonder in creating relationships of love." God has designed our friendships and even those we love so that we may see a part of His wonder and beauty. Thank you Lord for precious friends that bless me daily.

A friend loves at all times. Proverbs 17:17

7 comments:

Pam said...

I long for friends here that "get me". I have dear friends in faraway places, but I still haven't happened upon my niche here . . . only God knows what lies ahead.

I truly enjoyed the Piper quote. Thanks for sharing that, Wendy.

Great post.

Emmy said...

I love that! So true! Well said : )

Janeen Jordan said...

HI Wendy! I have been reading your blog for a while now...can't recall how I stumbled on it, but I have been so blessed by your REAL posts. Actually, I'm amazed that you have time for blogging, but glad that you do. :O)
Anyway, I just wanted to say hello and how wonderful it is to see how God is blessing you - thank you for sharing!

georgiamom said...

I feel so blessed to call you friend, and I am so glad God brought us back together as adults! I love sharing this precious part of our lives. The fact that our husbands are even friends is just like God---He just knows how to put the icing on the cake, doesn't He? I am thankful for you and your awesome family!!!

Jennifer said...

Saw J and your girls this morning and heard about your sickness. Hope you bounce back quickly. I am praying for you today!

Anonymous said...

This is such an encouragement to me. I am going through a time of longing for those close relationships. I am a newly wed who lives hundreds of miles from where I grew up. Thank you for sharing!

Anonymous said...

Hey Twin,
I have been praying for the same thing for years. Same as you, I see my dear friend from college once a year. I always LOVE it, but then it reminds me of how much I miss having a close girlfriend. It's much harder to make close friendships now with families, responsibilities, etc. Please pray for me about this. I wish we lived closer!
Amy