Thankful Thursday: Friends

Facebook informed me that National Best Friends Day was earlier this week – about the same time I was posting my rather self-pitying review of Nesting: It’s a Chick Thing, bemoaning my lack of friends.

And yes, it is true that I have not formed close friendships since moving to Wichita. I have met people, established some relationships – but haven’t developed those close, heart to heart, friendships I covet.

Even so, I am reminded this week of God’s mercy in what friendships I do have – and in the regular possibility of forming new friendships.

This week I’m thankful…

…for girly stuff with the girls
We generally all hang out as a group – several couples and a few single men. We enjoy Rachel’s happy food or Amy and Brian’s game days. But this time, Rachel and Amy decided to do a girl’s day. We enjoyed female fellowship, made roller bottles of essential oil blends, and ate girly food. It was a wonderfully relaxing morning.

…for fellowship with Matt and Megan and the opportunity to help them
Megan and I were due within a week of each other – except Megan went full term. We enjoyed comparing pregnancy stories and newborn stories, enjoying the similarities and differences between our daughters. Now their family is headed out of town, onto different things. We caught up a little before they left and had opportunity to help them pack some stuff up and clean the home they’re vacating. God has been good to give us their friendship thus far – and we pray God will bless them where they are now.

…for sitting with Alexa and DJ at church
We’ve seen them from the balcony a few times but haven’t been able to catch them at the end of services. But this time we passed each other the day before and determined to sit together. I’m glad to know they are well.

…for a girl who is eager to know us
We’ve sat near this family for months now, have greeted one another during the greeting time and sometimes talked before the service. I want to get to know the family better – they remind me of my own family when we kids were all still at home. But it’s awkward, trying to get connected. Sometimes I can feel discouraged, like connection (with them or other families) will never happen. But then the oldest daughter nearly runs over to talk with Tirzah Mae and I and I feel encouraged – we will develop friendships with families. It may take a while, but it will happen.

…for lunch with Dave and Kasey
It’s been a while since we caught up with their family and had lunch after church – but we did this week. With a few family members off on missions trips, the group was much smaller and more intimate than usual – allowing for good conversation among the whole crowd.

…for Tuesday Connection
This summer’s Bible study is populated largely by young moms – and while I don’t want to ONLY know other young moms, it is nice to meet more people who are at the same life-stage as I.

…for good conversation at Happy Food
Happy Food is always enjoyable. The food is always delicious, the conversation usually stimulating. But sometimes I engage more in true relationship and sometimes not. This week, I was reminded to be intentional about asking people about their lives instead of only engaging in the intellectual or witty repartee that is so common (and entertaining). It was good to hear of Rachel’s plans, to better know how to pray for and to encourage her.

…for hanging out with a new friend and her family
We met after Bible study a couple weeks ago and her kids were enthralled with Tirzah Mae. She invited me over – I accepted and we arranged a time. And it was delicious, just spending a leisurely afternoon chatting and playing.

Maybe I don’t have the deep friendships I long for (yet), but God has blessed me richly. And even when I haven’t had such a full life of human friendships, I’ve always had the friendship that endures:

“What a friend we have in Jesus
All our sins and griefs to bear
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer”

Thank you, Lord, for demonstrating your friendship by laying down your life for me while I was yet an enemy. And thank you, Lord, for demonstrating your kindness by bringing these many other friends into my life.