The Blessing of Friendship....

How to describe a close friend.... You know the ones.... the kind who pretty much know you. They have seen you at your best, and worst. They are there to listen to you vent, to lean on when you need support, and to comfort as you cry a torrent of tears. They've shared laughter with you, and rejoiced with you. Those are all traits of a good friend, and yet God has blessed me with a few friends that go beyond that description. Yes, they have listened, encouraged laughed and rejoiced..... but they have also prayed with me. Ever have a friend like that? One who will pray with you over the phone, or meet with you for prayer over a kitchen table?

I can count these types of friends on one hand. God brought each one at a different time in my life. They are each spread all around the country... and one international as well. I am blessed beyond measure by them, even though they all live so far away from me. Here are some things about our friendships that are so dear to me:

1.We are transparent with one another. We don't have to hide behind a mask of perfection, because we are not perfect! We can be "real" and transparent, and share areas we are struggling without judgement or condemnation. We have built a trust in our relationship to share safely with one another. My friends "know" me, and love me anyway.. LOL!

2. We have given each other permission to speak truth into each other's lives. What do I mean by that? Well, have you ever had a close friend and you know an area she is struggling, but she might not be able to see it. We lovingly share God's truth with each other that may shine a light on that area of struggle. It's what we've given each other permission to do. Sometimes it's hard to hear, and sometimes it's encouraging because it's just what we needed to hear. But it's always centered and focused on God's truth. Not in an effort to convict, (you know that's the Holy Spirit's job), but in a loving sisterly way. I remember once one of my girlfriends spoke truth to me in an area of my life in which I was pushing my husband and not standing back and praying for him. I was not letting God move the man. I was on the brink of tears after she pointed it out, not because I didn't want to hear it, but because I was cut to the quick convicted by it. I was so saddened by my actions and I asked for her to pray for me, because it was an area I definitely needed to give over to the Lord. Without her willingness (and courage) to point it out, I might never have seen it.

3. We have prayed together. My closest friends are the ones in which our relationships have been centered on Christ. The transparency with which we share our lives.... leads us to pray fervently for one another. I can't tell you how precious are those times when I have prayed in my kitchen or over the phone with a dear friend. Transparency...authenticity....about life struggles....... and through prayer we place them at the foot of the cross.

These friendships have lasted even though our proximity to one another has changed. Why? Well one, I believe they have been grounded in God's word. Those times of prayer and fellowship have laid a foundation for our friendships. But I also believe it's because we continue to make the effort to stay connected. It's hard because it's over the phone maybe once a month or so. We need a good 2 hours to really catch up... not just the superficial stuff, but the deep stuff. The stuff that really matters in life. The "real" stuff. :-)

Do I miss my times of in person fellowship with them? Absolutely!! I often wonder and cry out to God about why we are so far apart....... I miss our times of one on one regular fellowship and prayer the most.

I'm so thankful that God has given me each of these ladies, and that despite the geographical distance, we continue to share transparently, speak truth to one another lovingly, and pray for one another frequently.