True Friendship
Ben and I just walked in the door at 10:30 and saw a true demonstration of friendship.
Tonight, we had several people over for dinner, Bible study, and fellowship. As they began arriving around 6pm, we received a phone call that Ben's grandma had passed away today. We stayed here long enough to let everyone know what was going on and get the meeting moving, then went up to his parents' home to bring them food and help in any way we could. I left a key with Emma, thanked her in advance for locking up, and we walked out, knowing the meeting would continue and everything would be fine.
After a rather tiring and somber evening, we drove home, not sure what we would need to do when we got home. I walked in the door and the first thing I heard was my dishwasher running. My wonderful friends had cleaned my kitchen, loaded my dishwasher, and even put the leftovers in a container in the fridge.
Thank you Emma, Brent, Pam, Eric, Heather, Alice, Cliff, and Stacy for continuing the meeting and humbling me to tears as you blessed us tonight. Your love did not go unnoticed.
I'm A Winner!
Yesterday, while at the chiropractor, I received a phone call from my favorite (and only) sister. I declined the call, knowing I could call her back after my appointment. Not five minutes later, I received another call from a very strange number with a 727 area code. I promptly turned my phone off, tired of the ringing interrupting my appointment.
I called Shane back once I got in the car, and she said she received a phone call from a strange number, you guessed it, with a 727 area code, and was told she won a free cruise in a drawing which we both happened to enter on the same dinner excursion. Once she told me the results of her strange 727 phone call, I decided to call my 727 phone call back for myself.
"Yes, Gina, I need to start off by congratulating you. You were drawn for our free 4-day cruise to the Bahamas!"
Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I finally won something in my lifetime.
Even though I called and got more information today, had to listen to a ten-minute recording of boring and repetitive data, and found out it was definitely not worth it after all of the taxes, fees, and upgrades needed to make it worth my four days and three nights, it was still kind of a fun idea while it lasted.
Now, regardless of the circumstances of life, I know deep down...I am a winner!
Friendships Lost
My last post was a very saddening one. While I apologize for its informational and impersonal nature, I was unable at the time to personally explain what had happened to my dear friend.
I have been encouraged by those that counsel me to write about those I've lost and what they meant to me. Perhaps this may be an encouragement to you if you have lost someone dear. Perhaps this may encourage you to live for today and seek to honor the great cloud of witnesses that surround us.
I first met an extremely talented actor named Eddie Rector as a sophomore in high school. We saw each other in plays, knew each other through drama activities, and a friendship was forged. Eddie began to ask questions, and we talked about the Lord and his quest for faith. Over time, conversation, and the Spirit working in his heart, Eddie came to a passionate relationship with God. I cherished his friendship, inspiration, and never-ending search for truth. He constantly laughed, gave hugs freely, and never met a person he didn't like.
Eddie Rector was killed two weeks ago in a violent, evil crime. My precious friend's life was taken by robbers who stole only two computers. To imagine that Eddie's life was exchanged for two machines worth no more than a few hundred dollars...stunning. He was training in South Africa to be involved in a drama ministry team that reaches out to the poor and destitute. Eddie always spoke of his biggest dream being such a ministry. The times I saw him in recent years, he never failed to mention his desire to use his immense gifts to spread the gospel of Christ. He was living his lifelong dream.
Eddie isn't the first treasured friend I have lost in years past. In the future, I hope to write about others- their inspiring story of obedience to Christ in all they did.
How do we honor those that have gone before us? We allow their life and death to work its full purpose within us, forging a deeper passion and determination to use every day to glorify God himself. If we do not know Him, we open our hearts to the One they lived and died for. If we do know Him, we seek ever more deeply to know and have intimacy with He who called them home. We further their dreams of taking His message to the world in need.
If you have lost someone such as I have, honor them by allowing your life to be changed for the kingdom. If you have been spared such a loss, do not wait until you lose a beloved friend to be changed.
