Friends for 40-50 years!
This weekend we had a wedding at our farm. The bride is the daughter of a couple we’ve known for over 50 years. She herself is best friends with our children. Old friends came from all over the country to celebrate—many of whom we’ve known for 40 years or more.
We’ve had babies together, struggled with infertility together, gone through hard times in the teens years together, comforted one another when we lost parents, or a child walked away from the Lord, or one of us became ill. We’ve cried together, prayed together, laughed together, “waited” together, and most of all pushed one another towards Christ no matter what we were dealing with.
Our friendships have given us the right to challenge one another, to ask hard questions, to disagree-all out of love and in a desire to seek God’s best for one another. We are accountable to each other.
We need these old friends and we are so grateful for them. Each of us needs folks to walk alongside. It’s not a new principle. God created us to be relational people. The Trinity-Father, Son and Holy Spirit- reflects this.
Moses had Aaron and Hur, Paul had Barnabas and Timothy, Jesus himself had the 12 and of the 12, he had his three best friends, Peter, James and John.
The message is clear. We need community. We cannot walk alone. “I can do it myself” works well in growing in independence, but not in growing in Christ.
One of the main prayers that I pray for my children and my grandchildren is,
“God please give them close friends who love you-friends who will push them towards Christ and their spouses, friends who’ll be there for the long haul.”
This a good prayer to pray for your kids.
Jesus prays a similar prayer for us in John 17: 20-21.
“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”
As we commit to being a good friend to others, our world will see something very special.
May many people be drawn to Jesus as they see the love we have for one another.
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Thank you, dear friend for this post. I see my adult children seeking and nurturing Christian friendships like the long term and faithful friendships we have been so blessed to have! Beautiful photo and story!
In our move to NOVA, we have moved away from many long time, walk thru life friends. Christ will keep our relationships strong and but more intentional. Thanks for your encouragement by sharing.
Georgianne,
Thanks so much for writing! It is great to hear from you.
Love, Susan
Thanks, Susan, for being my dear friend for about 70 years! Your calls and emails mean so much. I treasure our visits.
We, too, have been giving thanks for long-term friends recently, numbering you both amongst them. What a blessing – keeping us on the straight and narrow, encouraging us, challenging us, walking with us – we’d be lost without them! And I loved seeing some familiar faces in your happy photo. Thank you and bless you.
Thanks for your never ending examples to us all! Beautiful! HALLELUJAH!!! We love you & John!
I love this post!
Thanks Callie, I love you!
Such a beautiful post. This is also my personal prayer…. God please give [me] close friends who love you-friends who will push [me] towards Christ and [my] spouse, friends who’ll be there for me for the long haul, Amen!
Thanks Highly Favored!
It’s an encouragement to hear from readers.
May God give you some “soul sisters” to walk alongside you.
Blessings, Susan