Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Friendship's Heart

Most of us don't need a psychiatric therapist as much as a friend to be silly with. ~Robert Braul


Many of you know how Katie prayed for a friend and how her prayer was answered when Emily moved to Muncie. Emily was not only friends with Katie, but with her younger sister, Kayla, as well. These three have more memories together than you can imagine. (I've written about them herehere and here.)

It’s heartwarming to see Emily and Katie work to keep their closeness following Katie's marriage and move to North Carolina.  They’ve sent cards and gifts through the mail.  Texting and phone calls have helped. Katie flew home for Emily's graduation. And Kayla and Emily have flown to North Carolina a couple times. Then Emily got the idea to send Katie a webcam so they could Skype.  Nothing makes this mother smile like hearing them laughing together over Skype.


Kayla is still nearby, but with her being in high school and on the volleyball team, and Emily in college, getting together is difficult.  This semester Emily has practicum at a local school for part of the day on Wednesday and doesn’t go to Marion for classes. Last week while I was away, Emily called to discuss her Wednesday plans.  She picked up Kayla at school, they went to Family Book Store to pick out a Bible Study program, and began their first Bible Study that afternoon.


When I hung up my heart was ringing with the words, “I find no greater joy than my children walk in truth.” To know that these girls wanted to study the Bible was a joy to me. I know the icing on the cake for them would be to have Katie there with them, but she’s always there in their hearts.


Emily with Katie's son, Camden
One of the most important things we can 
do is to guide our children as their friendships are formed. Friends whose parents share your values and Biblical world view is important. One of the blessings God gave us along with Katie and Kayla is their parents. Mark and Eleanor have been such dear friends -- we have vacationed together, spent hours over dinner tables solving world problems, shopped while our guys set up an office in coffee shops and motels.  We've laughed, shared our hearts, and cried together. 

Today while watching these daughters of the King chat while we were driving to Berry Winkle (chosen Bible Study site for tonight), I entered the Throne Room and thanked my King for this blessing of friendship. I can see these girls when they are old and wearing purple, laughter sprinkled with “remember whens"conversation. I hope they take time to thank their King for this gift called friendship.

Share the Shelter

Link up your sheltering ideas -- a recipe, craft or sewing project, a blog post sure to encourage or teach, or another sheltering idea you'd like to share? Link up and enjoy the ideas. Use them to go shelter!


13 comments:

Terra said...

That is a very blessed friendship with splashes of joy spilling over onto you.

joy said...

I can just feel the joy in your heart. I am happy for you and them:)

Denise said...

Our real friends and family are people who stick by us no matter what “moment” we are living in, because they care about us…they love us…they understand us…they rejoice with us…they suffer with us! They help us to clearly see and fulfill the vision that God puts into our hearts. :)

What a wonderful gift for you to receive, I am sure your Mother's heart is rejoicing! :)

Blessings and love Pamela,
Denise

Esther Asbury said...

I've found God's answers to "Lord, please send me a friend" to be both wonderful and amazing! Reading about Emily's friends makes my heart happy, and makes me treasures God's gifts to me even more!

Little Birdie Blessings said...

What a sweet story of Christian friendship. Thank you for sharing it with us. I can see it warms your heart. The baby is perfect, like a little doll. Thanks Pamela for hosting this link up. Blessings to you today. ~ Abby

Shannon Wallace said...

This made my heart smile. :) Blessings to you today and always...

Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy said...

What a nice tribute to their friendship, Pamela. This is very inspirational, and a reminder that life-long friends are the best. My daughter says that is because "old friends understand your thought processes."

Thanks so much for hosting Share the Shelter, and have a great weekend.

Kathy M.

Stephanie said...

What a beautiful, God-honoring friendship.
Thank you for sharing.

Hugs,
Stephanie

Denise said...

Sweet friendship.

Esther Joy said...

Friendships... Ahhhh.... I thank God for friends, and for family that are friends!

Elizabethd said...

Our Womens World day of prayer service today was on the theme of welcoming the stranger. I see that very much as sheltering too.

Courtney said...

What a joy to witness friendship like this. It's what we all want for ourselves and our children. Such a gift from God.

Thistle Cove Farm said...

rejoicing with you that your girls are growing to be women after God's own heart!