Thursday, March 22, 2007

My friend....


My friend, J, is getting married......
When I met her I was a young minister's wife with 3 kids, she was still a college student...very serious...about her future, her relationship with the Lord, her life...
Together we grew.....she graduated, got her masters...I raised my children and kept my household afloat while my minister husband attempted things in church life that had not been done before ....she became integrally involved in our church family...I became integrally involved in our church family...she embraced the newness and became not only one of my hubby's greatest supporters, but one of our dearest friends...she bought a house...we bought a house...she went through trials...we went through trials.....
she was smart and independent...financially wise...always preparing for her future...always working hard to live her life to the fullest...and always an incredible support to our family...
over the years we have eaten together, cried together, camped together, traveled together....she has taken my children on outings, attended their baseball games and ballet recitals, cheered their victories, ...celebrated their high school graduations and college successes...visited with my son when he was far from home away at school, encouraging them all in every aspect of their lives as if she were an aunt or immediate family, even to opening her home to accommodate my mom as a house mate for 3 yrs...she has traveled to foreign countries, accompanying my hubby and others from the church on many mission trips and even going in his stead on occasion... always supporting us and the work with her time, effort and money...always giving her whole life to her Lord and His house.
Her creativity and energy has abounded over the years, enabling her to share the Lord with so many, saints and unbelievers alike, in amazing ways...
Once upon a time we(my family) found it necessary to move from our home church to a far and distant land with no church fellowship at all. I credit this friend...this dear sister...with my very salvation...her creativity and compassion kept me alive and connected during those lean and barren years...and though she may not know that I know...I do know that she was behind the many kindnesses of those years that kept me afloat spiritually.
It has been 20 years...20 yrs of ups and downs...despair and joy...heartbreak and gladness..and plain old fun that we have shared....more recently our paths have diverged...we see or hear little from each other these days...and that mostly from mutual friends...
but time and space cannot erase the relationship we have forged nor the love we share....
J has always lived her life pure and upright before God and man...struggling as we all do but always turning again and again to Him who is the giver of all good things....
so it was with great joy we rejoiced to hear the news...

I weep that I cannot share it with you... but know always that I love you....We love you...
Go with God into this new adventure called marriage!

My friend, my sister J,.... is getting married!!!

16 comments:

Deborah Fantasia said...

That is so neat, after all these years that "J" found someone whom she wants to spend the rest of her life with !!!
I remember "J" well, a wonderful - good woman.
I don't know if "J" reads this, but if you do, I send your way many blessings, joy, and so much love and happiness for your new beginning !
Congratulations :)
Deborah

dille2@cableone.net said...

There is Something about all term friendships that is hard to explain. There are most certainly ups and downs but the love never goes away. I have a friend who has been my pal for over 30 years. Because of alot of circumstances, we don't speak anymore but a photo of her is still in a frame on my bookcase. Her youngest daughter is getting married soon, heard thru the grapevine and she has never met my GK. But you are so right, we love them and wish them the best. If I never seen her again, I couldn't tahnk her enough for all those years of friendship - I amnot trying to liken your friendship to mine but you reminded me how precious it is, thank you my friend...

Pat said...

What a wonderful friendship to endure time and distance. You are both blessed.
Congratulation to J and the groom = you are indeed in for an adventure...and I'm sure your friend Cheryl will always be there for you, as you were for her.
Blessings!

Tammy said...

Congrat to your friend...what an exciting adventure!

Anonymous said...

Wow! That was an awesome tribute to friendship! I treasusre the visits you have made to my new place...and the wisdom you have written in regards to my struggle with this very same issue. I know that at my old blog, you may remember a very similar post about the closest friend I have...my best friend...I pray that I will be able to understand these ebbs and flow and that they do not necessarily result in a severed friendship...but one similar to what you have found with J. I am incredibly happy for her...I just heard a similar story about someone marrying just yesterday ;)....it is springtime after all :)

KayMac said...

ditto. what an awesome friend/friendship!!

Gigi said...

THAT is an awesome tribute.....

BekABoo said...

Wow, what a difference a year makes! Just a year ago she took me in, helping me prep for my wedding. I'm so excited for her!

jayjay said...

I am so excited for her too! Don't know her as well as you do, but AMEN to all you have said. HOW THRILLING that she has found her soulmate at last. She has been a good friend to me as well, when I was in a country far from home.

Amydeanne said...

what a friend!!! That is such an amazing story!

Anonymous said...

Sometimes the Lord blesses us with a special friendship. Someone we can share those day to day moments with. I am so happy for you and your friend. May the Lord bless her in her marriage and bless you, her dear friend.

TJ said...

what a wonderful tribute...my friend, you have a way with words!
:-D

Arlene - BY HIS STRIPES!!! said...

What a wonderful lifelong friendship. Congratulations to the bride and groom and to you for being such a special friend to them!

Anonymous said...

this is incredibly beautiful :)

may God bless her in ways she never imagined :)

Admin said...

What a wonderful gift God has given you both in your friendship. True friends are such a blessing!

And congrats to her as she takes this new step in life!

Portrait of Peter said...

Friendship to me is like that of "water" - we need it, we share it, and above all without it - we don't exist.

A beautiful posting and sincere good wishes to your dear friend too.

Blessings for a wonderful weekend.