I had a great time watching Kara interact with her girls. They are so sweet and little cuties and Kara is a great mom. Ellie and Easton took off and didn't really need me, except for the occassional hug or kiss after getting bonked or falling down too hard. Kara and I got to talk a bit and then we took the kids out to lunch. They all did great and seemed to hit it off pretty well! I enjoyed noticing how quickly small children can become instant friends. I watched Ellie help, guide, even push Addie through the play structure; listened to Addie ask what Ellie was having for lunch so she could have the same thing; watched the kids scramble through the play structure looking for each other; listened to Easton ask me over and over on the way home when Sadie and Addie could come play at our house and even ask me this morning if Kara was coming to our house today.
As we drove home and I reflected on our fun morning and lunch date, I just kept thinking "Make New Friends, but Keep the Old". The kids made new friends and I need to keep the old, good, true friends, too! I so look forward to future play dates with the kids, but also times when just Kara and I can hang out and visit.
Just before leaving yesterday morning to meet Kara, this daily devotion was on my e-mail. I was struck by how appropriate it was for this very day! I know it's a bit long, but I hope you take time to read it. It may inspire you to reconnect with an old friend.
March 31, 2008
Connecting with Friends
By Renee Swope
Devotion:I noticed that I had developed a habit of checking email repeatedly. One morning I checked it as soon as I woke up. Then I made breakfast and checked it again. Had my devotional time and checked it again. Ran some errands and when I got home, checked it once more.
Now, I have a thing about keeping white space in my inbox, but this was more than just managing emails. My heart was going back for a reason. I felt the Holy Spirit nudge me to pause and ask myself, “Why do you keep checking your email?”
I sat there and let my heart respond honestly. I wasn’t sure if it was God or me answering, but my soul intertwined with His Spirit whispered: “You keep coming back because your heart longs to connect with a friend.”
Somewhere in the busyness of life I had let many of my friendships reduce to quick connections via email. Over the past year my schedule had gotten so full with kids, school projects, family needs, investing time in my marriage, and new responsibilities at work that something had to give. I didn’t want it to be my family, so I asked God to help me find balance.
I’d felt Him leading me to cut back on the amount of time I spent talking on the phone, socializing with neighbors and hanging out with friends. Although I hadn’t completely cut out my friendships, my face-to-face connection time with my friends had been reduced to a minimum. That morning as I sat at my computer, I realized I hadn’t found balance. The pendulum had swung too far.
Here I was checking email repeatedly, trying to fill a God-created need for relationships with a white screen and black alphabet keys.
I knew I needed to make some adjustments to find a better place of balance, to fill the lonely place in my heart with friends I could talk to and share life with in person. That day I closed my laptop and called one of my closest friends. She happened to be available so I took some time off work to spontaneously meet her at a coffee shop and go for a walk. It was just what I needed.
Friendships are not easy to build. Time is limited with lives that keep us so busy. But in this age of technology, it’s important to evaluate things in our lives that create a false sense of connection like email, television, text messaging and overboard activities. Although these things are okay in moderation, they can’t substitute real-life connections. We have to intentionally carve out time for friends that are in close proximity. Times where we can share what’s going on in our lives and, like today’s verse says, encourage one another with what God is teaching us. Long-distance friendships are precious to me, but I also need friends close by. That day I learned that there’s just something in my heart that is filled when I connect with a friend in person.
God created us for relationships where we can see each other, hug each other and talk to each other face-to-face. Jesus knew this need, as well. He encircled Himself with intimate friends – first His Father, then His close friends John, Peter and James and then the other nine disciples. He also had friends like Mary, Martha and Lazarus that He spent time with sharing what He was learning from His Father, laughing and having a meal together. He modeled for us the picture and the power of connecting with friends.
Dear Lord, You created me with a need for friends. Yet, I find myself rushing through my days with little time for heart-to-heart connections. Help me to seek You first as my ultimate Friend, and then reach out to others so I can have and be a close friend. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Make a list of friends you enjoy being with. Call or email them to set up a time to get together for some girl-talk. If you’re not sure who to call, ask God to show you someone you can begin a friendship with. Invite them to lunch this week.
Reflections:
What are some of my biggest obstacles in developing real friendships?
Power Verses:
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!” (NIV)
Connecting with Friends
By Renee Swope
Devotion:I noticed that I had developed a habit of checking email repeatedly. One morning I checked it as soon as I woke up. Then I made breakfast and checked it again. Had my devotional time and checked it again. Ran some errands and when I got home, checked it once more.
Now, I have a thing about keeping white space in my inbox, but this was more than just managing emails. My heart was going back for a reason. I felt the Holy Spirit nudge me to pause and ask myself, “Why do you keep checking your email?”
I sat there and let my heart respond honestly. I wasn’t sure if it was God or me answering, but my soul intertwined with His Spirit whispered: “You keep coming back because your heart longs to connect with a friend.”
Somewhere in the busyness of life I had let many of my friendships reduce to quick connections via email. Over the past year my schedule had gotten so full with kids, school projects, family needs, investing time in my marriage, and new responsibilities at work that something had to give. I didn’t want it to be my family, so I asked God to help me find balance.
I’d felt Him leading me to cut back on the amount of time I spent talking on the phone, socializing with neighbors and hanging out with friends. Although I hadn’t completely cut out my friendships, my face-to-face connection time with my friends had been reduced to a minimum. That morning as I sat at my computer, I realized I hadn’t found balance. The pendulum had swung too far.
Here I was checking email repeatedly, trying to fill a God-created need for relationships with a white screen and black alphabet keys.
I knew I needed to make some adjustments to find a better place of balance, to fill the lonely place in my heart with friends I could talk to and share life with in person. That day I closed my laptop and called one of my closest friends. She happened to be available so I took some time off work to spontaneously meet her at a coffee shop and go for a walk. It was just what I needed.
Friendships are not easy to build. Time is limited with lives that keep us so busy. But in this age of technology, it’s important to evaluate things in our lives that create a false sense of connection like email, television, text messaging and overboard activities. Although these things are okay in moderation, they can’t substitute real-life connections. We have to intentionally carve out time for friends that are in close proximity. Times where we can share what’s going on in our lives and, like today’s verse says, encourage one another with what God is teaching us. Long-distance friendships are precious to me, but I also need friends close by. That day I learned that there’s just something in my heart that is filled when I connect with a friend in person.
God created us for relationships where we can see each other, hug each other and talk to each other face-to-face. Jesus knew this need, as well. He encircled Himself with intimate friends – first His Father, then His close friends John, Peter and James and then the other nine disciples. He also had friends like Mary, Martha and Lazarus that He spent time with sharing what He was learning from His Father, laughing and having a meal together. He modeled for us the picture and the power of connecting with friends.
Dear Lord, You created me with a need for friends. Yet, I find myself rushing through my days with little time for heart-to-heart connections. Help me to seek You first as my ultimate Friend, and then reach out to others so I can have and be a close friend. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Make a list of friends you enjoy being with. Call or email them to set up a time to get together for some girl-talk. If you’re not sure who to call, ask God to show you someone you can begin a friendship with. Invite them to lunch this week.
Reflections:
What are some of my biggest obstacles in developing real friendships?
Power Verses:
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!” (NIV)
1 comment:
Sweet post, great pictures and thanks for sharing the devotion. How perfect was that for yesterday?!
We are also looking forward to future playdates/coffee dates and whatever else comes our way!
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