Friends For This Life and the Next

Back in December I wrote a post where I made this statement:

The real friends you make in your life will always be with you, no matter where you live. The miles or the years make no difference. (read the rest of that post here.)

This weekend we had the opportunity to spend some time with some friends from Iowa. These friends are relatively new to our lives, just a couple of years, but we’ve bonded in a special way. God does that sort of thing.

When we received the call asking if we could transport them from the airport to the dock where they would board their cruise ship we were thrilled to agree. So a week ago we drove them the half hour from the airport to the ship port and then yesterday we did the trip in reverse with a slight detour for lunch. We had a wonderful time just visiting as friends. The location for lunch was chosen spontaneously. No need to pick the right place to impress anyone, no agenda, no real plan except to be at the airport on time.  It was a very relaxing visit with much laughter and many words of encouragement shared.

What a blessing to have friends that you can just be yourself with. Those are the friends for life. You can’t help but be encouraged when you get the opportunity to be together, even for a short time.  And isn’t that what God intended friendship to be? A true source of encouragement.

I have already written more emails and letters in the last month than I have in a very long time.  I have chosen to be intentional about keeping connected to those who have become a part of my life.  For 10 years we have done this with the friends we left in Ohio, now we add more precious folks from Iowa to our circle.  We are so blessed!

Some of our special friends have gone on to their Heavenly homes and it is also a blessing to know we’ll be together again one day. And what a reunion that will be!

Sometimes you have friends who are in need and you do whatever you can to help them. We saw that kind of outpouring of love when we were preparing to move.  Many friends came to offer their help and encouragement. It meant so much to us.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up.

Can I ask you to pray for a friend of mine? We have friends we have known for over 30 years who are in a difficult time in their lives. We haven’t seen them in many years, but we share many memories and feel connected to them even today.  Four years ago they lost everything in a fire.  They have spent those years rebuilding their lives only to lose it all again to yet a second house fire this past week.  I can’t imagine what they are experiencing. My heart aches for their family.  If you would add Steve and Lyn North to your prayer list I would be grateful.  And if you are interested in helping in a tangible way or just reading about the incredible work God has allowed Steve to be part of in Toledo, Ohio you can get more information by clicking on the following links.

Lifeline Toledo

Help the Norths