Sometimes friendship gets last place in my life.
It's easy to prioritize my children, my husband, and my laundry.
But I was reminded this weekend of the importance of friends.
Lifelong friends that were there through first dates, high school, weddings, and midnight visits to the hospital when our babies were born. These priceless friendships that have endured the test of time. Friendships with decade buried memories and relaxed laughter. The ones who really know me. And really love me. Their presence is familiar and comforting, like a warm blanket on a cold winter day. They embrace me, all of me. These friendships had to be fought for. And they survived.
And the new friends that merged paths through life events: a new church, preschool play-dates, a move to a different city, dance class, soccer practice, a new job. New friends that reflect my current journey, introduced through shared life experiences. Friends that understand the familiar pain of a marriage on the rocks. And friends that share in the joy of a marriage reborn. Friends that I meet on the first day of school, both of us waving goodbye to our little girls growing up too quickly. Friends that understand the fear and loneliness of 2 am without our husbands because they are arresting drunk drivers, breaking up fights, and convincing an armed 18 year old that he does indeed have something to live for. Friends that rub knees and hearts with us while we sit indian-style on the soccer field sharing pretzels and pride in our children.
Regardless of the age of the friendship, I need them.
I need to meet them for lunch and laugh at the silliness of our children. I need to celebrate life with them at anniversary parties, birthday parties, and a summer party just because. I need them to challenge me by digging deep, asking hard questions, challenging me, and encouraging me. I need to laugh with them. And cry with them. And forgive them. And apologize to them. And love them. And be loved by them.
In John 13, Jesus commands the disciples to love each other. Jesus didn’t drop commandments lightly. There are only a few, rare instances in Scripture when He was so direct. He knew something they did not. They needed each other.
“Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art… It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things that give value to survival." (C. S. Lewis)
