A friend loves at all times...

"A friend loves at all times and a brother is born for adversity." Proverbs 17:17

Tomorrow is my best friend's birthday. She's going to be 50. She won't mind my posting her age. That's one of the reasons I love her. She's been my friend for over 20 years, which is hard to believe because I know for a fact that one of the things that we share is an over-whelming sense of being children in a world that is way too big for us, and a undeniable need and desire for our Heavenly Father. We're actually kind of funny, sitting together drinking coffee, talking about how much we need our Father, how much we need to learn, how grateful we are for God's care for us and how dependent and needy we are. Then, when we get up off the couch, we make those "ooouff" noises that our parents used to make when they got up off the couch. And it takes a few steps before we're completely upright. But, children, we remain.

There are many things I love about my best friend. She's brave, although she would deny it. She learned to ride a horse this year. And when she fell off, she got back on. With her husband, she has raised 5 children into adulthood. Watching her parent the kids has always left me in awe. She is a passionate, dedicated, giving, hopeful, wise and faith-full wife and mother. She is a prayer warrior for her family, and to my ever-lasting gratitude, for her friends.

I don't know that I have always been an easy friend. I have always loved her, but my life has been a veritable rollercoaster of emotions and craziness and she has been dedicated to the ride. She has been my truth-teller, my cheer-leader, a voice of reason, wisdom and common sense, which I am sometimes woefully lacking in. She has rejoiced with me when I have rejoiced, and has mourned with me when I have mourned. When I growl, she reminds me to growl at circumstances, and not people. When I sing she ignores the missed notes and sings loudly so I can follow her. No matter how broken or wounded I am, she points me towards God and encourages me to trust in Him alone. And when I do, and He turns my mourning into gladness, she dances with me.

The awesome thing is that she does all of these things even though she has struggles of her own. I feel as if I have received so much more out of this relationship than she has, and I think she feels the same. We both look at each other and go, "Wow." I pray that we will be looking at each other and going "Wow," for many years to come. Actually, I know we will, and our relationship is as eternal as we are, in God's kingdom. Which is why I am pretty sure she won't mind my posting that she's going to be 50. What's 50 in view of forever?

Happy birthday, Sandy. May this coming year be an amazing one, full of joy, peace, love and fun, fun, fun! I love you, and thank God for you. Like, seriously.

{{{{{huggles}}}}}