Thursday, July 23, 2009

A Good Friend

Tonight, we say good-bye. With tears. Hugs. Hope. Holding on to our dreams. We don't know when or if we'll see each other again. My friend flies back to Germany tomorrow. But for today, we'll do what we've been doing for the past two weeks. Talk. Laugh. Share. Shop. Run. And eat. Way too much of all the wrong kinds of food. She's a stay-at-home-mom. A military wife. World traveler. Excellent cook. Decorator. House flipper. Writer. Photographer. Dreamer. And most importantly, Friend. We'll make plans for me to visit her. Tentative plans. Very tentative. I've never flown across an ocean. We'll send E-mails often. Still, I'm going to miss her. Good friends are hard to find. King David knew a great deal about the limited supply of good friends. He had a good friend. Actually, he had two. You're probably familiar with the friendship between David and Jonathan, King Saul's son. How Saul tried several times to kill David. How Jonathan intervened on David's behalf. And how when they said their final farewell, Jonathan asked David to promise to show "unfailing kindness" to Jonathan's descendants. David kept that promise when he became king. But did you know that God gave David another good friend? We find this guy's name in a who-was-who-during-David's-reign list found in 1Chronicles 27:33. Ahithophel was the King's counselor. Hushai the Arkite was the King's friend. And that's all we learn about Hushai the Arkite from this verse: He was a friend of the King. Friendship. His one credential. Rather intriguing, don't you think? Our loving God knows that we're made for friendship. To have friends. To be a friend. With others. With Him. Let's take time today for a friend. And for Him. Yes, saying good-bye hurts. But a good friend is so worth it. Sweet dreams, Deb

18 comments:

  1. Hi Deb,

    WOW...I'm first today!

    As ususal,love the post & thank you for the reminder of the value of friendship.

    I just want to know how you found this verse?

    I'll have to head over to Chronicles & check it out. It seems that I only read in Kings so there's part of the solution.

    Amazing what's in this book for us to discover!

    Finding new friends on our blogs,

    Margie

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  2. To be called a friend is one of the greatest credentials. So thankful for the old and new friends in my life.

    As Michael W. Smith sings, "A lifetime's not too long to live as friends."

    Praying for you tonight,
    Joy

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  3. Deb,
    I am grateful for your friendship. I have been praying those verses you sent every morning and I am anticipating His answer.
    Love, Sita

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  4. I do believe that friendship is one of God's most precious gifts. I just left some friends in Massachusetts that had only been in my life for a year but who I pray will be part of my life for years to come. I have friends in my computer that have never been in the same room with me. I have friends that I have known since elementary school that came back into my life through Facebook of all places. I text, Tweet, Skype, call or email my best friend from college daily. I have friends that even if we don't talk to each other for months, we can jump back in where our last conversation ended. I feel so blessed to have all of these amazing people in my life.

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  5. Dear Deb, It is true. God created us for friendships. That is why the blog friends we have made are so special. Never having met face to face (for most) and yet the love is so warm, so real.

    And I love what you posted about David having another friend. Wow, I never knew that. It always comes a delight to my heart when I discover something new through a friend's blog post!

    And your blog post on friendship was so special. I pray God will soften the blow of separation. And that you will really get to see your dream of flying over to Germany. I have German friends. They are keepers...friends who stay, and never let go of you.

    Enjoy your German friend. I can definitely relate to how you feel.

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  6. Deb,

    Very enjoyable post.

    I remember when Donna was about 10 years old she asked me how I could say Betty was my best friend when she lived so far away and I hardly ever got to see her. I told her it didn't make any difference how far apart we are when we get together we pick up where we left off. We always had a wonderful time together. Well that was hard for her to understand at that age but as she grew up she understood.

    Friends are the greatest and I will always miss Betty. At times I think I would feel so much better if I could talk to her, she always seemed to know just what to say.

    We need to talk about that trip to Germany, may be a chance we could go together.

    I am like Whimize Ididn't know about David's other friend.

    I love you
    Joyce

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  7. Margie,
    This verse grabbed my attention about four years ago; I recorded it in my journal.

    Joy,
    Thank you for your prayers.

    Sita,
    I'm thankful for your friendship, too. God's word will not return to us void. His word will return to us with power. Strength. Might. And His everlasting love. I'm praying for you.

    Whimzie,
    I agree with you. Friendship is a special blessing from our loving Father. You're doing a wonderful job in keeping up with your friends. Your attitude inspires all of us.

    Crown of Beauty,
    Thank you for praying for me. Sharolyn is a special friend, and I do hope to see her again. I need courage to cross that ocean.

    Sis,
    I know you miss Betty so much. Y'all were such good friends. Nest to Mama, she's probably the one person that you miss the most. I'm glad that we will get to see them one day.

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  8. As I get older I value my friends all the more. Some have moved away and some I've lost to that enemy cancer. Others are close but busy schedules often keep us from connecting regularly. Your post reminds me to not take friendship for granted.

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  9. Oh, to go down in history with this behind my name:

    Remember Jennifer? She truly was a friend of the King.

    Thank you for an incredible post. Love the treasure you've found in Scripture. In awe over God's word.

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  10. How thankful I am for the many friends God has placed in my path. Isn't God's word the most amazing gift? Just this morning, I read something I've read umpteen times before, but it struck me in a new way, and I saw something I'd never "seen" before, just as you did here with David's "unknown" friend.

    Beautiful contemplation...

    peace~elaine

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  11. Deb:

    Thanks for visiting my blog today....I am now following yours!

    I loved your post about your friend....I lived in Thailand for 4 years and I so remember the tears as I would say goodbye to my family and friends each time I would return. I loved the life of an expat but I always wished I could have all my friends with me! LOL

    Isn't it wonderful to have great friends in your life......

    I'll be back and look forward to a blogging friendship....

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  12. God definitely intended for us to have friends on this earth. I'm as thankful for mine as it sounds like you are for yours.

    Happy SITS Saturday Sharefest!

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  13. My sweet friend. What a treasure this post is to me. Thank you for your precious words about our friendship and know that I have been thanking God for the gift He gave us to connect again, face to face. You will remain in my thoughts and prayers until we meet on this side of the ocean, next time! :)

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  14. I'm actually going through a tough thing with a friend right now. This is was very good for me to read.
    Thanks for visiting my blog and leaving a comment. I agree with you that it is hard to let Christ be in the place of our lives that we really want Him to be all of the time. Sometimes I think that I get in His way too much.

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  15. Thanks so much for your comments. I appreciate you for taking the time to share with me.

    Sweet dreams!

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  16. Your blog has been such a blessing to me! An encouragement! I want to present you with the lovely blog award over at my sight. You just need to come by and pick it up! It's just an encouragement hug I'm throwing your way! Thank you for being so kind! (Be praying for a firm move date for us!)I hope it's next week!

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  17. Oops! I misspelled sight! It should have been site! I'm blushing!

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