Friends...
What a different meaning that word takes on as you go further down the road of life...
My mom was just visiting with us for 25 days. When I say that out loud I chuckle because I felt like time was too short. That it was impossible she was here for almost an entire month...
But indeed she was. And now she is gone.
But that's how it goes when you see your family 2x a year 3x if that's the way things work out...
The ache, the sadness it comes. I expect it and try to prepare for it and its been three full days since they left and I'm feeling better, but it still is so heavy.
And with them leaving and us having such a good time enjoying summer, it got me thinking about friendships...
How to make new friends when it seems everyone is so busy?
I joined Mops.. it was nice... but there is a disconnect.... maybe it's me, maybe it's the program or maybe its just the season of life...
There's groups at church. There's groups all over. But how do we build these relationships? To a point where we feel we can reach out to them, or call them up and invite them over to just hang out, no pressure of anything?
The thing is at this stage of life with young kids it's hard to devote time to building a friendship. I find myself thinking do I want a date night with my husband or a night out with friends? I find myself wanting both!
It takes effort, thoughtfulness and the thing that is so sacred time...
I feel too that with young mother's we can let each other down often. Kids get sick, our priorities get mingled all up. For example, we can see the never ending dishes and something overtakes us and we will cancel a play date because well the house needs to be cleaned right now...
Why do we do that?
But here's something that scares me in my generation and very much so in the younger generations...
Social Media.
How is that we need to be connected to people so much that we have to text them while we are driving?
Are we really so selfish to put others lives at risk to finish that conversation in the car?
Hey I'm no saint. I've done it too. Sometimes Ill be driving and my mind is so crazy something pops into my head and I grab my phone to tell me husband. Than I stop, because it's not worth it.
Are we such a society that we are so 'busy" to put effort into friendships that we can just Facebook each other instead?
Do you feel connected to people by reading their status'? Is this a good thing or a dangerous thing?
Is it too hard to maintain friendships or build them in person and social media becomes a lazy escape?
Is Facebook a lazy friendship?
I'm all for Facebook in the fact that I can throw my pictures up and my entire family gets to see them rather than sending them in e-mail.
I'm all for keeping up to date with family and friends. But when is it too much? Why is that so many of our thoughts about ourselves end up as our tweets or status?
Why am I writing all my thoughts right here, to people I do not know!?
Why do we take so many selfies? How many times do you check Facebook or Twitter in a day?
Do you check to see how many people "liked" your picture?
It's a crazy thing this social media.
Its why I was off for three months, and am wrestling with the idea again.
Why are we so showy on social media? Why can't we post our dirty kitchens and have our kids smiling?
Why is that I take my girls to the park and half the adults there are on their phones?
Why do we need to be so plugged in?
I hate that. I hate how easy it is to fall in the trap.
Our generation doesn't ask neighbors/friends for help, we You tube it instead.
Why is that?
It is so hard for me to be away from my family because time flies, whether your plugged in or out digging in your garden.
When I'm with them it feels so right. My husband and I are so happy and free. I love seeing all of us just truly enjoying each others company. There is no competition no judgement. It's amazing.
How do we obtain new friendships to feel like that?
Effort, time, pray, and non judgement. Love.
What would happen if instead of checking Facebook for the 2nd or 3rd time in a day we spend time with God?
So today Im so very thankful to a God who loves us no matter what. A God who knows our hearts deepest desires and wants to fulfill them. I'm so thankful for my family. I'm so thankful for my friends.
My inspiration for you is this,
" Two are better than one; because they have a god reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow." Ecclesiastes 4:9
"Wounds from a friend are better than many kisses from an enemy." Proverbs 27:6
'There are friends who pretend to be friends, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Proverbs 18:24
