I had a lunch date with a friend planned for today. Now I know if you follow me at all in this hit and miss thing I call a blog, then you know that I love people. People are always worth the effort. Somedays, I am not as sociable as others. I credit that to the personality that I have been given. I am (unofficially and certainly very mildly) manic depressive. I am a lunatic for weeks on end and then I hit the skids. You can look at my house and tell where I am in that particular cycle. Poor, poor husband.
I woke up this morning to a grey day. I heard a bird outside and I swear it sounded like "and screaming and screaming and screaming and screaming". So bizarre. But it stuck in my head. I knew I had to hitch up my britches and get through it all. I physically shook myself and made myself get into the shower, go get the kids up, get them to school, come home and start cleaning.
I called my precious friend, and left a message letting her know I hadn't forgotten. I told her we could grab something somewhere or she could come over here. This was huge - because I am in the middle of a "skid", the house looks like it exploded. But - I know this friend and she would not be offended by this house and its messiness. She has three boys as well and a very young little girl. Anyway - I knew it would be fine.
I continued getting through my list, getting things accomplished (which is a miracle in and of itself) when I got the call. My friend called and said they had been sick all week long and that she had totally forgotten that we scheduled lunch today. This was not offensive at all since I live my life by the seat of my pants and don't know what I am doing from moment to moment much less day to day (I MUST do better).
Two weeks ago she gave me a book at church. Just out of the blue -for no reason - other than she had me on her heart (makes my eyes water just to write that). It is called "Jesus Calling" by Sarah Young. It is a daily reading that is the most amazingly encouraging stuff I have read in such a long time. There are days when I am reading it that I am absolutely AMAZED at how it hits my emotional nail on the head. There is not one day that I have not agreed with it or been thankful for its direction in scripture for me. Anyway - her thoughtfulness has inspired me to do better when thinking of others and to follow through with my desire to "do" for them. Her blessing on me has been so impactful that it has led me to do the same. I LOVE that.
So the call - she just told me that she has been praying for me and has walked through her mind what my day must be like. The pressure of working full time and being amongst so many in my area that do not work full time must be difficult at times she told me (it is). She told me that as she did this she prayed for me. Wow.
What a precious friend to think of me in the midst of her incredibly busy life. I must confess that I struggle as I go to a church that has many of the "same type" of folks. And I love these folks. God is our mutual interest and they are a precious lot. They are a smart lot. I see wisdom and so many things I would like to be in this church of ours. But I am a roller coaster of emotions (so not steady), and I am goofy and liberal (yes - I am sure compared to many of them I am), I feel like God has placed this bizarre weed (me) in a formal garden that is fierce in it's disciplined beauty. And yet - I make sense there. I am needed. I forget that sometimes.
Thanks to my sweet friend, I caught another glimpse of that. Her care and thoughtfulness has made me better on this grey day. My heart is light and it has been encouraged.
Hebrews 10:23-25
23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
What Kristy did for me, is exactly what we are called to do. I will be faithful to follow this example.
I had to share. That call, and those affirming words of hers, made such a difference in this day. Even though I didn't get to sit and eat with her, it was a blessed 5 minutes that had big impact.
I am so thankful!
