There are people in your life who change you. People whose opinion you value more greatly than others, and whose company revives your spirit like only a few can do. One such person was the maid of honor in our wedding. We became friends when we roomed together after college. This friend walked some amazing days with me, and always pointed me back to the Lord in the decisions I was making and in the relationships I was building. She had front row seats as God brought Ryan and I together, and she became like a sister to me.
The Lord has arranged that my friend and I should serve Him on different continents for the last 11 years. We keep in touch through Skype, emails, and the ever wonderful Facebook, but there is nothing like having her in our home. Just recently, she and her family came to stay with us for a week; something that only happens once every few years. I know it is difficult for her family to share this time with our family, and I am grateful for their generosity. ( I know I would have a hard time sharing my daughter with another family if I only got to see her once every few years.)
There is something about journeying through life together with her. Our husbands have a grand time as well, and it makes for many moments of hysterical laughter, and who doesn't need that? The ease with which we pick up never ceases to amaze me. You know you have a special friend when you can see them once every couple of years and it seems as though we just got together last week.
I remember during my public school days that a teacher once told me that to have even one such friend in your life is to be truly rich. I feel blessed to have a handful of such friends, and though most would not define our family as wealthy, in this area we feel particularly blessed. Seldom do you have people stay in your home for a week and you feel more refreshed than before they came. I hope that Ryan and I can be that kind of friends to the people in our lives...to leave them refreshed after having spent time with us.
I would like to encourage you to build and foster this kind of relationship with people who will tell you the truth, and love you where you are at. Their value is far above the riches of the world. Parenting can be draining and demanding, but to have such friends in your life will help you carry the load more gracefully. And who doesn't need a healthy dose of grace in their life?
