I got to have a nice long visit with a friend today. We've only known each other for just over a year, but in some ways it seems like a lifetime. We are so similar in so many ways it's almost scary- our husbands even have similar occupations (professional drivers)!
Once of the many things that I appreciate most about her is that we can be real with each other. On recent visits we have joked that we're such good friends that we no longer feel the need to clean our houses before the other arrives (you know the cleaning I'm talking about- the 'I've got to impress' kind of clean as opposed to this is life kind of clean).
But deeper than how clean we try to get our houses, we can be real about life. How our days are going, frustrations with home schooling or children or whatever.
Thankfully though, we don't leave it there. We know that the other person will pray for us in those situations and challenge us to make it better by remembering to keep bringing it to God. To uphold each other in prayer and when needed, to be accountable for things is such an amazing thing to have.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 talks about how when you have someone else with you on the journey (of life), you can help each other along. And it's true, I have pitied myself on those days where I felt all alone in my troubles with no one to encourage me. I'm not saying that my husband is never there for me, but there are times when you need a different perspective that your husband just can't give.
And with this new friend, I've found that. And it is good.
An added bonus is that two of her kids are friends with two of mine and even when the rest of the kids are around, they all still get along- seven kids ages 3 - 14! Pretty impressive.
So, for tonight- I can put up with the bits of popcorn all over my kitchen, living room, hallway and home school room.
Why? Because it means that my life is rich in the blessing of friendship and my kids got to experience that as well today. And, because vacuuming really isn't my chore anymore, lol! (But I'll help this week- just because.)
Keeping it real, by the grace of God...
Tammy
Once of the many things that I appreciate most about her is that we can be real with each other. On recent visits we have joked that we're such good friends that we no longer feel the need to clean our houses before the other arrives (you know the cleaning I'm talking about- the 'I've got to impress' kind of clean as opposed to this is life kind of clean).
But deeper than how clean we try to get our houses, we can be real about life. How our days are going, frustrations with home schooling or children or whatever.
Thankfully though, we don't leave it there. We know that the other person will pray for us in those situations and challenge us to make it better by remembering to keep bringing it to God. To uphold each other in prayer and when needed, to be accountable for things is such an amazing thing to have.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 talks about how when you have someone else with you on the journey (of life), you can help each other along. And it's true, I have pitied myself on those days where I felt all alone in my troubles with no one to encourage me. I'm not saying that my husband is never there for me, but there are times when you need a different perspective that your husband just can't give.
And with this new friend, I've found that. And it is good.
An added bonus is that two of her kids are friends with two of mine and even when the rest of the kids are around, they all still get along- seven kids ages 3 - 14! Pretty impressive.
So, for tonight- I can put up with the bits of popcorn all over my kitchen, living room, hallway and home school room.
Why? Because it means that my life is rich in the blessing of friendship and my kids got to experience that as well today. And, because vacuuming really isn't my chore anymore, lol! (But I'll help this week- just because.)
Keeping it real, by the grace of God...
Tammy
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