Stay connected

God, it’s a beautiful day! The sky is a flat, dark gloomy gray. There’s large patches of dead grass – scalloped with little piles of dirty snow. The bare, black branches of the trees are twisting to and fro under the weight of the cold, cold wind. And there’s a tiny, needle-pricking snow coming down sideways.

And so I sit in my cozy living room… and remember the lunch hour I spent yesterday with two wonderful friends over in Grand Rapids. And I recall the comforting phone call I got on Saturday from a cherished family member. I remember with fondness someone’s little note sent to me – just saying she is praying for me. And last week, I received a letter from a long lost friend – and she’s coming tomorrow for coffee and a nice long chat. I pull out the valentine I got from another friend that I haven’t seen in too long a time. Another couple of dear friends drove all the way over on Sunday to worship and sup with us. So many wonderful people in my life. Old friends. New friends. Friends I see all the time. And some less frequent – but always on my heart and mind. Sometimes relationships do drift, physically – but the love remains. The feelings I have for them do not diminish. What a joy to reconnect!

Real friendships stand the test of time. Stand the test of closeness or distance. I love my friends that I see on a regular basis. I love the friends I see on occasion. I love all the notes and cards and phone calls and texts and facebook messages and behind-the-scene prayers. It’s that staying in touch. Staying connected. Staying concerned for each other… an exchange of loving and being loved, listening and being listened to. Yes, love remains.

And God Himself. There are times when we can sense His presence. There are His love notes to us found in scripture. There are beautiful landscapes He paints for us to enjoy. A mug of coffee and moments of quiet solitude – with Him. An exchange of loving and being loved, listening and being listened to. What a joy to reconnect!

God, it’s a beautiful day…

• So grateful to call you friend!
• Hope all is going well for you… keeping you in thought and prayer.
• Let’s make plans to get together soon! You are missed…