You Need Your Friends

You never know what a week will bring. I’m just sayin’ …

Last week I planned a Saturday morning “catchin’ up” walk with a friend. I wasn’t a very good walking buddy though, as I was doubled over with gallbladder pain for the majority of our short journey. By the grace of God, my friend is a nurse and she aptly diagnosed my symptoms (as did my brilliant husband).

Mayo was swift … I saw my doctor on Tuesday, had an ultrasound within hours, met with a surgeon on Wednesday, and had that bad boy evicted from my body on Thursday. … and my friends have rallied. Even as I type this a dear friend is here delivering a meal. Yesterday another friend brought a meal and yet another camped here with me for the afternoon while Mike was at work.

There’s little that’s more humbling than needing others.

There’s little that’s sweeter than friends who step up … who don’t even need to be asked.

Friends come and friends go, but a true friend sticks by you like family. ~ Proverbs 18:24 The Message

Mike Tweeted his own version of this the night before my surgery: Blessed are those who have friends and a church family that has their back when trials arise. #blessed #friends

The beauty of this is that this weekend I’m watching friendship play out on multiple fields, and I’m reminded that to have a friend, one must be a friend.

Two weeks ago, my daughter (senior in high school) said good-bye to 3 best friends (aka: The Girlz) who all left for college … in 3 different states. That leaves a pretty significant gap in one’s life. We’ve watched the girls connect as only technology will allow these days.

Unfortunately, one of the girlz has a roommate who makes every nightmare roommate story I’ve ever heard pale in comparison. (My kids would insert that I’m “old” and have heard a lot of stories in my countless year. What.ever.)

This girl needed a true friend … and Kadi drove across the state to get to her yesterday. The reunion was beautiful. They camped at Grandma and Grandpa’s house last night and then devised a plan to road trip north to one of the other girlz who needed a friend this week. She had no idea her day was about to be hijacked by her besties …

This oh-so-surprised friend is allowing us to serve as foster parents to her little Toni while she’s at college. I know she misses Toni terribly, so I thought I’d end this post with one more friends clip …

“Friendship isn’t about who you’ve known the longest … It’s about who came, and never left your side.” ~anonymous