"Def-TEA-nition"

A friend is always loyal, and a brother (sister) is born to help in time of need. (Psalm 17:17, NLT)

This pass week has had me experience many kinds of family. None were the family of blood relation, but family all the same!

My long time trekking T-Cup friends with whom I travel once a year. My former university office mate, (UM) who is so MUCH more than a professional friend. My HHS friends who are great for laughter and tears and sometimes both at once.

Like family, they have all been there for me in time of need. During my 2009 cancer journey, they clothed me, fed me, and nursed me. Friends going beyond measure of simple friendship. Becoming family.  

Proverbs 18:24 says, "..a real friend sticks closer than a brother." In my life, I'm not sure that's possible because my brothers are my cheerleaders and have always been there for me---but these real friends do the same!

"Flowers are like friends, you get to pick them."

Starla, the young protagonist in Whistling Past the Graveyard, defined family well. "The  people who look out for me. The people I look out for." (p. 308)
I'm grateful God provided me all these beauties ---I got to choose from the best of the bunch! Friends who are like family! A true def-TEA-nition of family, at its best!

"When we consider the blessings of God—the gifts that add beauty and joy to our lives, that enable us to keep going through stretches of boredom and even suffering-friendship is very near the top.

Donald W. McCullough, Mastering Personal Growth

"MY" Buddys

8/21/12 Everybody needs a buddy in life. Sometimes a buddy’s physical presence is desired, especially during times of both celebration and mourning. Many buddies can come and go during different seasons in life. Certainly God has provided many buddies for me along my spiritual journey. But God….has also given me two REAL Buddys in both my physical family and my spiritual family. This past week, both offered counsel as I was once again struggling with “ranking” my priorities in life. 

Older brother, Buddy, had a succinct, but pointed, list for my consideration. He’s known me for 65 years, so he has the “right”. Plus, he does it in love and kindness and I know he has my best interest at heart when he reminds me to “let God lead…where He wants…” Prioritizing starts with Him. 

But God….didn’t stop there. He had me catching up on son, Buddy’s, on-line sermon, “Traps and Tugs”.  The first part dealt with the misconception of “trying” to prioritize life with a sequential/rank list in order to follow Christ with His priorities. We tend toward rules and ranking but the Lord wants us to go beyond our “list” mentality into relationship with responsibility. He will help us navigate that life which is in alignment with Him.

Only one thing is needful. (Luke 10: 41:42) I read that in the Upper Room entry (8/15/12) the morning after I blogged of my priorities’ struggle.

But God….gave me 2 Buddys to remind me of that.

Everybody needs a Buddy---how grateful I am to have two.

“My” Buddys

Older Brother Buddy

Older Son Buddy