Friendship

I have never felt the need to fill my life with lots of friends. I know that it is biblical to "do life together." I know that community is important. But I have always been the kind of person that thrives much more on alone time than pouring my life into more relationship.

Now I don't mean this the way it may seem. I am not a recluse. I do have good friends whom I like to have coffee or spend the day with. We do share life together. We listen and encourage one another. We connect because we are at the same stage in life or maybe because we have similar interests. But these relationships have never been such that I feel as if I would cease to function without them.

Today I had a conversation with a friend that I know I would truly suffocate (for lack of a better word) without. You see, the really cool thing is that God knows me so well that he has graciously given me one or two very special "heart friends" to carry me through this life. This one particular friend does not live near me. I have the opportunity to see her about once a year. But we have phone conversations that mean the world to me. There is absolutely no one that "gets" me and my life like Nikki.

Now I know that Nikki would be embarassed to hear me say too many wonderful things about her. She would humbly remind me that she has many faults that she is yet to overcome. But that is the great thing about her, you see. She is real. She is ahead of me in the game of life and ministry and faith and parenting and marriage. Yet, she is always there to walk right beside of me. And she allows me to be her friend even though we are at different stages in life.

Some would say that she is my mentor. I would agree with that. But I would also like to believe that she is so much more. She is a gift that God has given to this young mom and pastor's wife who tends to shy away from intimate relationships. Some might also say that they would love to have lots of friends just like Nikki in their lives. I would not. I am thrilled and blessed to have just one.

God, thank you for knowing me so well that you created a relationship that perfectly suits the "me" that you made. Thanks for a person who is willing to pour into my life. Thanks for giving me someone to trust to speak Truth into my life. Thanks for a friend who is a joy to call mine.

I am amazed at how you knit life together, God. Even as I write this, Kevin is in Vietnam with Bob, Nikki's husband. How ironic that you have not only given me a friend but you have given Kevin and I a married couple to do life with. Kevin and Bob's relationship is a bit different. Life and purpose moves much faster for them and they don't have a lot of just "talk time" anymore. But of all the people that have crossed our paths as a couple, we will forever cherish these two probably above all. Without their influence on our lives and marriage and family we would not be who or where we are today.

Thanks so much!