- I remember the day she was born.
- I remember the day(s) I caught her eating crackers off the other children’s plates if they turned their head for a split second (and the adorable unrepentant grin she displayed when I caught her eye.)
- I remember the night her #10 jersey was displayed on the Brashier gym walls in recognition of the 1308 points she scored during her b-ball years there. Yes, 1308 points! (I’m still convinced it was the glow-in-the-dark b-ball we gave her years ago that was the catalyst for such proficiency!)
- I remember the invitation we received this past week for her high school graduation and the cookout that would follow.
Kayla’s
family has been an integral part of our lives for over 20 years now. Her
mom, Teresa, and I co-taught a women’s Sunday School class and bible
studies for years and have remained best friend’s ever since. All of
Teresa’s children feel much like my own. Her four girls feel more like
daughters and I suppose they always will.
As we sat around the table last night during the graduation celebration, I couldn’t help but think of my grandmother, aka Ma-Ma (my dad’s mother) and the many life-long friends she made during her 60+ years at Fairforest Baptist Church. Throughout my life I watched as she not only loved her friends, but their children as well. I think Ma-Ma especially gravitated towards the daughters, seeing how she had her hands full with four boys at home!
Today’s “church years” don’t seem mirror those of my grandmother’s, when people remained in one church their entire lives. Nowadays, prayer partners part and families follow.
Yet, nights like last Thursday remind me that we, as the Church, are one regardless of the walls we choose to sit within on Sunday mornings. Relationships can last far beyond the goodbyes. It requires a little intentionality and sacrifice but it’s worth every effort. Our lives are richer for knowing Kayla (Miss Graduate!), her parents, and siblings, as well as other friends we no longer attend church with but remained connected to.
I’m grateful that in some ways my friendships—and the friendships developed with their children—mirror those of my grandmother’s days.
How about you? Did God bring anyone in particular to mind while reading this post? If so, I encourage you to make the effort to touch base with them. It may just be God’s perfect timing at work!
I'm afraid I moved too often for those long friendships, but I do have a few friends that even though we don't see each other often–in fact one couple is in another country–we still pick up right where we left off–spanning years and thousands of miles. Maybe it has something to do with being family in the complete sense. P.S. Great quote.
Thanks for stopping by, Marcia! I'd not seen this particular quote by C.S. Lewis but loved it too.
Hope you're having a very blessed weekend!
Yay Kayla! We just love her…what a great post Cathy honoring her character and your friendship with her family. Friendships seem to be the theme of your last few posts and they are to be treasured!
Liked your blog, Cathy! In answer to your question,..during the years our sons were youngsters at our same church for 35 + years, I had several friends – mothers. Sadly, my closest have moved on to other cities & the contact is not there anymore!
Appreciate the life friends I have in our Women's Bible Study Group! Not connected through our kids in early years! Thanks for CSL's quote! Love it!
Well, it's not easy or always possible to stay in contact with everyone but I think the Holy Spirit prompts us when there's someone we need to reconnect with from our past. And in some instances, when to make some distance.
Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing, Sheri!
Isn't Kayla awesome? 🙂 You're so right — friendships are to be treasured as they're one of our greatest blessings from above.
Thanks for taking time to stop by and share, Celeste. God bless!
Since my husband is a minister, we moved quite a bit in our younger years. I am thankful for all the precious friends I've made at each church. Friends,like you,are treasures.
You make me smile, Dee Dee. 🙂 Treasures, indeed.
Love you!