My "friend", Mr. Webster, defines the word "friend" as a person whom one knows and with whom one has a bond of mutual affection.
When I consider my friends, I realize I am blessed with so many, longtime friends and short time friends.
A few weeks ago the news came that one of our company's past employees had been diagnosed with brain cancer. This diagnosis came suddenly and a quick surgery followed. This was quite a blow to him and to all who know and love him. He is married to one of my very oldest friends. His wife and I went to school together from first grade and lived in the same neighborhood. (Yes, there was no kindergarten back in those days so it was since first grade.) We rode the bus together for all our school years and had a circle of girlfriends who did the same. Yes, those were good times. As I saw her as we visited her husband in the hospital, I thought of how we looked different and had not talked in a long while but that mutual bond was still there. We exchanged phone numbers so we could keep in touch. The next week was my birthday. One of the texts I received that day was from her. She had remembered my birthday after all these years. Obviously her memory exceeds mine and I was totally impressed. As we texted a bit back and forth, I mentioned how I found it amazing that she remembered. Then in the back recesses of my mind, I thought, "May 24". I texted and asked her wasn't that her birthday. Wonder of wonders, it was! So here I am and can't remember things I did yesterday but remember HER birthday. As I considered that, I realized we were "friends of the heart".
Last week, I went to Christmas lunch with my Lunch Bunch. We are five women who have been going to lunch often for 25+ years....sometimes monthly, sometimes every other month and lately with stresses of aged life, less often. We had a wonderful time together and I realized the blessing again of these "friends of the heart". They are the friends who know your fears, share your joys, make you food if you are sick, and know without being asked if you need your toilets scrubbed....and are willing to do it.
For the past few years I have received an anonymous gift from someone in my church at our after Christmas program gift exchange. These gifts always have a bird involved. Now for all of you that don't know, birds speak to my spiritual heart. They amaze me. Obviously, this friend giver knows this about me. Last night I received an advent calendar with red birds at the bottom. Here's some gifts I have received from this anonymous giver.
I have an idea who it is. She would be a "friend of the heart"....one whom I know prays for me and those I love. I hope she is blessed by the giving as I am blessed by the receiving. After all, God does love a cheerful giver...especially one who loves birds as I do. So, a grateful shout out to you, cheerful giver!
I consider the friends that I don't have room to mention--those I've met through my work, through volunteerism, through church/worship, through my girl's friends and college life, and all the others in between. My life is very blessed with "friends of the heart". All of my friends remain in my heart and touch my life more than anyone can imagine.
One of my many Christmas wishes is to be the "friend of the heart" to others as they are to me.
Consider.........
When I consider my friends, I realize I am blessed with so many, longtime friends and short time friends.
A few weeks ago the news came that one of our company's past employees had been diagnosed with brain cancer. This diagnosis came suddenly and a quick surgery followed. This was quite a blow to him and to all who know and love him. He is married to one of my very oldest friends. His wife and I went to school together from first grade and lived in the same neighborhood. (Yes, there was no kindergarten back in those days so it was since first grade.) We rode the bus together for all our school years and had a circle of girlfriends who did the same. Yes, those were good times. As I saw her as we visited her husband in the hospital, I thought of how we looked different and had not talked in a long while but that mutual bond was still there. We exchanged phone numbers so we could keep in touch. The next week was my birthday. One of the texts I received that day was from her. She had remembered my birthday after all these years. Obviously her memory exceeds mine and I was totally impressed. As we texted a bit back and forth, I mentioned how I found it amazing that she remembered. Then in the back recesses of my mind, I thought, "May 24". I texted and asked her wasn't that her birthday. Wonder of wonders, it was! So here I am and can't remember things I did yesterday but remember HER birthday. As I considered that, I realized we were "friends of the heart".
Last week, I went to Christmas lunch with my Lunch Bunch. We are five women who have been going to lunch often for 25+ years....sometimes monthly, sometimes every other month and lately with stresses of aged life, less often. We had a wonderful time together and I realized the blessing again of these "friends of the heart". They are the friends who know your fears, share your joys, make you food if you are sick, and know without being asked if you need your toilets scrubbed....and are willing to do it.
For the past few years I have received an anonymous gift from someone in my church at our after Christmas program gift exchange. These gifts always have a bird involved. Now for all of you that don't know, birds speak to my spiritual heart. They amaze me. Obviously, this friend giver knows this about me. Last night I received an advent calendar with red birds at the bottom. Here's some gifts I have received from this anonymous giver.
I have an idea who it is. She would be a "friend of the heart"....one whom I know prays for me and those I love. I hope she is blessed by the giving as I am blessed by the receiving. After all, God does love a cheerful giver...especially one who loves birds as I do. So, a grateful shout out to you, cheerful giver!
I consider the friends that I don't have room to mention--those I've met through my work, through volunteerism, through church/worship, through my girl's friends and college life, and all the others in between. My life is very blessed with "friends of the heart". All of my friends remain in my heart and touch my life more than anyone can imagine.
One of my many Christmas wishes is to be the "friend of the heart" to others as they are to me.
Consider.........
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