Budding Friendships

My very dear friend came into town late September to visit her family and I was hoping that I would get some time to visit with her too. I have missed her so much. She is so much fun to be with that it was hard for me to hear that when I left Jacksonville she felt some loneliness because I had moved away. To me she is just the picture of pure sunshine and I thought she would pick up a new friend to replace me quickly. But then she went on to tell me how she prayed for a new friend and God gave her one.

Suddenly I felt a sting of jealousy. Who was this woman? Was she more special than me? I found myself looking her up on facebook and catching a glimpse of her life. Oh my goodness, I've become a cyber stalker!!

I've been praying for special friends too. Adjusting to a new home is stretching. I've been going to our local library reading time with the kids for a year and just now all of us mothers in the group have started being a little less shy and more open to talking. I was recently invited to the playground with some of them. A budding friendship is emerging with one in particular, she too is from Florida. She has five kids. She reminds me of my special friend and I think God must be answering my prayers too.

I hope my dear old friend knows how special she is to me. I think I've taken for granted the casualness of our relationship a little too much. I need to make it a point to remind all my friends how very special they are to me, near and far, old and new.