I spent this past weekend with one of my favorite people- my friend, Carol R. We met about 19 years ago when we both lived in Charlotte, NC and we've been great friends ever since.
We always laugh when we reminisce about how we met because we met each other in Walmart of all places! Carol was buying formula for her 5 month old baby and I was buying diapers for my 8 month old baby. We struck up a conversation right away. As we talked we realized that we lived within 2 miles of each other AND that both of our husbands frequently worked 2nd shift.
The next week, while our husbands were at work, we decided to meet just to talk and get to know each other.... and before we knew it we were spending all our time together while our husbands were at work! Although I moved away just 3 months later, Carol and I have stayed very close through several out of state moves for both of us, births and adoptions of other children, homeschooling, and every thing else, (good and bad), that life has thrown our way in the past 19 years.
I can call Carol any time of the day or night and she is always there for me and she knows I'm there for her too!
When she arrived at my house with her kids this past weekend, we literally sat for hours each day just talking about anything and everything. I love sharing life with her.
What about you? Do you have a friend you can talk to? A friend you can call on anytime for advice, prayer, or just a listening ear? A friend you can simply share life with?
Especially for us as women, we need those close friendships. We need prayer partners and close friends who will keep us accountable as wives, mothers, and Christian women.
If you don't have a friend like that, let me encourage you to pray for a friend. That's exactly how I met Carol years ago. When I moved to Charlotte, I had a newborn baby and I felt so alone- especially when my husband's job took him out of town. I had been having a personal pity party for nearly 8 months- seriously, EIGHT months! I kept praying "Poor me, God. I don't have any friends here in this new town. I'm so lonely."
When I finally got over myself and started praying for a friend, it made my head spin how fast I met Carol in Walmart! So if you long for a friend, one you can really share life with, then ask God to send you one. Then, don't sit back and wait for them to show up at your doorstep, get out of your comfort zone and meet some people. Try a Bible study- that is a great place to meet a Christian friend.
Remember this hard truth as you pray for a friend- loneliness is a choice. Make a conscience effort to meet people and you'll soon realize the blessing that comes from sharing life with a God-given friend.
