I must admit, I'm not a follower of the Guinness Book of World Records, but I'm wondering if I might just qualify for setting a record that could be included in it. This week two of my friends and I got together over lunch to visit and "catch up". The record part is that what started out to be a a short visit, turned into a marathon lunch that lasted 4 1/2 hours! You see, we were friends growing up and now we live in different places. We each are married, have children, and two of us have a grandchild. We all three work in high schools.....two teaching, one as a secretary....one of us lives in California (the LEFT coast) and two of us in Georgia. I am the only one who still lives in our hometown. We don't get to see each other as often as we would like, but it only takes a few minutes together to get back to "where we were" the last time we talked. We are three very unique personalities, but very much alike when it comes to our love for each other.
I get so tickled when I think of how our conversations go. One of us will be telling something, and then another says, "That reminds me of when......" and we revert back to one of our escapades during our high school or college years. These stories usually involve a lot of humor, mainly because we could get ourselves into some of the craziest situations, and almost always end with us saying, "Oh, I hope our children never do that!" It's usually at this point, that we mention a current situation with our children that we want to "just run by our friends" to see what they think about it (that's southern lingo for asking for their advice). I am wondering if I am the only one in this group (actually, I don't think I am) who, when listening to these conversations about our kids and their personalities, see that these children are so much like their mamas! What is the saying....."the fruit never falls too far from the tree"? I laugh, but it is so true.....our children, more often than not, are reflections of who we are and to be honest, sometimes that is a very cruel joke! Personally, I get a kick out of watching my daugther deal with her 3 1/2 year old daugther's personality, because it is just like hers! What goes round, comes round and boy, her's is coming round! No, not really......my daughter was and still is a very independent person, which though it can be trying when they are children, makes all the difference in the world when they are adults. But, to keep from going on too far with that thought, I might want to remember that my daughter could be a reflection of her mother, as well. That's a responsibility I really don't like thinking about.
Jesus said in John 14, verse 9, "Whoever has seen me, has seen the Father." (New Century trans). He was VERY comfortable in letting the world know that he did things just like his Father. Jesus was simply saying, watch me.....do it, just like me......live it, just like me.....react to it, just like me....pray about it, just like me.....think about it, just like me.....and, most importantly, LOVE it, just like me. If we do all that, then those around us.....our loved ones and our friends....will be able to follow the example we set, and that example will be a reflection of God. Great "ideal"......tough "deal" to follow everyday.
The most important part of the relationship I have with these two friends of mine, is that all of us are Christians. That means that when we share our problems, our heartbreaks or our concerns with each other, we know that circumstance will be lifted up in prayer for direction, discernment, healing and grace. There is so much comfort in that. Even though we are separated by miles and time, we are one in our love for Jesus. Now how blessed is that?
I'm not sure when we will be able to visit again.....I told my friend in Georgia we need to plan to take our other friend out to lunch again real soon......where she lives, in California! We almost qualify for a Senior Citizens' discount so the lunch would be really cheap! I look forward to our next time together.....talking, laughing, trying to remember names (that seems to be happening a lot lately). I thank God for these precious ladies and for the ability He gives us to love......even over many miles and long periods of time. The friendship we have shared over the years is a priceless blessing from God that truly reflects His love.
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