Sunday, October 9, 2011

Silence in the House

This week was a tough one. I lost my little Maltese, Harmony. She was a gift from my parents (who have both passed) 14 years ago. She held out as long as she could but it was time to let her go. I held her for the 30 minutes before the vet came in to help her pass. I cried and cried knowing the one thing that knew me the best was going away and not returning.

Bow season started this week and my husband and stepson went away. Without Harmony the silence was deafening. Several times I thought I should walk her, feed her, or hurry home to see her...then I would realize I was by myself.

Friday, October 7, 2011

Friendship...Know My Heart

Lately the topic of friendship has been on my mind. The loss of friendship or lets say the move from friendship to acquaintance is part of the reason my mind is on this topic.

Looking back at my life at all the friendships over the years, some are here for a season, some God has placed in your life forever, some because they want something from you, and others just by circumstance. We all have friends that fall into one of these categories. But whatever the reason I have always stuck by my friends no matter what was going on in their lives or mine.

My mother, in her thirties, found probably what became her closest and dearest friends. No matter what was going on, where they were located, through thick and thin they were friends. Friendship based on a christian foundation. They took the time to know her heart. This was true friendship. That I think is what we all long for. That friendship, centered on Christ, getting to know each other, not easily influenced because you know the other person's heart.

We can all work at being better friends to each other. I know that it is something that I strive to be. A friend that is there, waiting until needed or wanted. After talking to a longtime friend of mine about another friendship situation, she gave me some advice. She said, "They don't know you. If they truly knew you and they were your friend, they would know the truth of your heart." She was right.

Last Christmas, I had a small group of women, who have touched my life, over for brunch. They were women who inspired me professionally and spiritually, prayed for me, made me want to be a better person, and I was looking forward to many years of friendship with all of them. The sad thing is that this group may be even smaller this year...it will be those who took the time to know my heart and allowed for me to know theirs.

No one has greater love than to lay down his own life for his friends. John 15:13