Moment in Time Friends

Moment in Time Friends

As I was talking to a friend from work the other day I realized how I value this growing friendship. We are going through many of the same struggles. We both graduated from college the same year, yet we are working in retail, not the most profit making job around.  We share our frustrations about not being able to find a better job. We trade stories of interviews where we swear we nabbed the job, only to get that lovely letter job hunters “love” to receive. I also became sadden to realize that once one of use move on, we more than likely will lose touch with each other.

As I talk to this new friend, and realize my day at work is better because this person is there, I cherish it. I call these types of friends “moment in time friends.” I believe they are sent to us during different stages of our lives. We have all had them. The friend in sixth grade we walk home from school with. The friends in high school with whom we share new life experiences together. The friends in different college classes that we study with, hang out with, and party with. The friend at work that helps you understands a difficult boss, and gives you pointers how to survive on the job.

These are the friends you cherish, you rely on them, and they make your day better. It’s just weird that how when you move to another stage in life, you lose touch with some of them. Yet they leave a mark in your life. You remember them fondly, you cherish the moments you had with them. It is sort of like they serve a purpose in your life during a particular stage. Once that purpose is played out you both move on. They are just as important as the friends who do stay in your life.

I don’t know what separates between the two types of friendships, how one friend you stay in touch with, or if you do lose touch, when you meet again you pick up where you left off. Others you lose touch, if you meet up again things are different, you don’t click the way you once did. I don’t like the idea of thinking that they really weren’t friends. I prefer to think that friendship in that particular time had a purpose. Which is why I think “moment in time friends” is a perfect term.

I guess God feels we have a need for both life long friends and moment in time friends. When I was a little girl I use to sing a simple song that has a stronger meaning for me today. It went like this “make new friends, but keep the old, one is silver and the other is gold.” So I take this children’s song to mean all friends are precious, no matter how long their appearance in our lives. So the morale of this story is, cherish all your friends, no matter how long they are in your life. Once a friend always a friend.

Thankful

For a Mother that serves as a spiritual guide, confidant, and friend

That my Dad accepted Jesus as his personal Savior weeks before passing away

Friends who no matter how many miles become between us, our friendship only grows stronger

Friends who I reconnect with, and become even better friends than before

Dogs that are always happy to see you, and want nothing more than your love

Little kids at church who almost knock you down with their hugs

Babies who smile and laugh when you talk to them

The Casanova that smiles, winks, and says “hey baby, how’s it going? Does the ego good, you know!

Friends at work who make the day bearable

That my nephews thank my mom for taking them to church

Nieces that are growing into beautiful and smart women

Brothers to whom you will always be “little baby sister.” No matter how old you are

Friends you can call on the cell phone after a hard day and say “Baskin Robbins NOW!” And they will beat you to the ice cream parlor.

Friends to plan girls’ night out after we get new jobs.

Interesting conversations with total strangers

Great bosses to whom you can still after many years, look back and reflect on their wisdom

A loving church family

That I do have a job, no matter what the job it is

That I know the difference between quality and just plain cheap

Soft rain on a hot summer day

That God has a sense of humor, which he gives to us. Makes life more bearable

That someone invented chocolate mint ice cream, cappuccino cheesecake, and Frappachinos

People who are able to hold on to their faith and God’s love during times of incredible loss

People with giving hearts

The guy that always makes me laughs

That God sends “moment-in-time” friends to get you through a certain life situations

That I had a happy childhood, where I had two parents that were safe havens

For the future children that I know I will have, just got to find the perfect guy

Most of all I’m thankful God Sent His only Son to save us all

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

The Purse

The Purse

Yesterday a friend told me this wonderful tale she calls her “purse story.” I was immediately intrigued by the title, what kind of interesting story can you tell about a purse? True it is an object most women cannot function without, and at a total loss if the purse is missing or worse stolen. A woman’s whole life is carried in her purse.

This was during a hard time in her life; she was divorced and raising two young daughters. Money was tight, and life was hard. To relax she would go to a church retreat in New Mexico. She describes it as a great place to go, take different classes on many aspects of a Christian’s life. They also had activities for her daughters, while she attended classes.

While she had some free time in between classes, she decided to sit in on a class about praying. The speaker spoke of how to pray, and the importance of praying for yourself, as much as you pray for others. Pray in times of crises, and in good times. For if you only pray in times of crises, and forget to talk to God during good times, crises will increase to ensure you talk to God. Now this does not mean you will never go through crises again, however you will have a better handle on the situation. He also suggested that as your list of people to pray for grows; designate particular days for groups of people. For example, on Sundays pray for family, Tuesdays, pray for friends, Wednesdays for your church, etc.

Well this class really affected her, so for two months she seriously prayed every night for herself and for others. Then one day in her prayers she asked God if praying for others was really helping? Was she really making a difference in anyone’s life? Some time after that she and her two girls was driving down a major street when she noticed a woman’s purse was sitting upright in the road. So she pulled over, got out of her car, dodged traffic to retrieve the lost item. She knew there was a woman somewhere in a total panic.

When she got back into her car she looked into the purse and pulled out the wallet so she could find contact information of the owner. As she looked in, she saw two hundred dollars, which at the time she could have really used the money. She fought the temptation, and contacted the woman once she returned home.

The woman was so grateful, that my friend had found her purse. She explained that she had placed her it on top of her car while she puting her son into his carseat. She then drove off, leaving her purse to fall off the car. She said that her husband will come by after work to retreive the purse.

After a few hours the woman’s husband stopped by my friend's house. He was very grateful that my friend had found his wife’s purse, he handed my friend fifty dollars. For some reason, that at the time she could not understand, she handed the money back to the him. She him he could pay her back by taking his family to church. After the man left she shook her head, she couldn’t believe what she had told him. She must have sounded like one of those crazy, bible beating church goers.

A few hours later the woman who lost her purse, called my friend crying. She thanked her for telling her husband to take his family to church. She went onto explain that a few years ago they had adopted their son. In the adoption agreement, they had both agreed to take their new son to church so he would grow up in a Christian home. She took her son to church every week. Her husband refused to go to church with them, even though he had agreed to take the son to church. When her husband came home, he told his wife that he believed God gave him a sign telling him he needed to start going to church with his family. So he promised that he would go with them from now on.

After my friend hung up with the lady, she realized that her praying for others did have an impact. Her prayers started things in motion for God’s work and plan to take action. So the morale of this story is we may not visibly see the affect our prayers have on others, but they do make a difference. For our actions and prayers play a viable role in God’s plan.

Just Pray.