Chips, Queso And Amigas
Sophie - June 19, 2008
Melanie and I are both in Charlotte, North Carolina, and last night we got to go to dinner at a real-live restaurant where we were not responsible for dispensing chicken nuggets and French fries to little people.
Oh, it was very luxurious and fancy.
We went to a Mexican place down the street from our hotel, and after we set about the business of systematically demolishing some chips and salsa, we started to catch up on what was going on in each other's lives.
Because A LOT had happened in the eighteen hours since our last phone conversation, you understand.
And while yes, it's true that Melanie and I talk, oh, at least once a day, we don't often get to sit down and talk without interruption. In fact, when we talk on the phone we typically have to assist a preschooler in the bathroom at least once per conversation, and we've mediated no telling how many END! OF! THE! WORLD! meltdowns while simultaneously relaying information about the super-cool shoes we saw at Target.
So sitting in a booth across from each other? All alone?
It was a bit of a luxury, aside from the nachos that had approximately two heads of lettuce shredded across the top of all the hot cheese.
I don't think I'll be eating salad again anytime soon.
We sat in our little booth for an hour and a half, talking about everything and nothing: our husbands, our kids, our shoes, our hair - and probably more time on that last thing than is either healthy or good. We talked about Big Decisions we're praying about, some Life Junk we're dealing with, and the ongoing process of pushing through the fear that seems to go hand-in-hand with new opportunities.
I guess you could say that we talked about everything and nothing. And it was some mighty fine fun.
This morning I was thinking about our girls' night out when I saw this article on the front page of the Lifeway site. The article has a lot of great things to say about the importance of friendships among believers, and more than anything it was such a reminder to me that we are people designed for community. We are not meant to walk through life alone.
It's difficult - especially in such an image-obsessed culture - to let down our guards with people, to let them see our flaws and our baggage and our struggles. The Southern girl in me constantly fights the tendency to pretend like everything is okay when it's really not, to gloss over the fact that I've made some big mistakes in my past, to just nod my head when someone is telling me about their problems - as if I've never had any real problems of my own.
So in those moments like last night - where the food rates somewhere just below average but the conversation is genuine and transparent and sincere - I can't help but be reminded of the blessing of friendship, the blessing of community, the blessing of walking through life with people who know your junk and love you anyway.
And I am ever-so-grateful.
Melanie
Melanie
Sophie
Sophie
Paige
Paige
Kris
Kris
Comments (4)
Still haven’t had queso. I’m saving that experience for SA.
Posted on June 20, 2008 1:26 PM
Yes, indeed, an Amen to this: ‘the blessing of friendship, the blessing of community, the blessing of walking through life with people who know your junk and love you anyway.’ And I was overjoyed last night when my bible study ladies said they were game for another round of studying God’s word. Because, you see, God has had this “let’s get together in some homes and have us some bible study-just us girls” on my heart for many years. We started with Walking By Faith and we are going to begin No Other gods in a few weeks. And the woman that offered to open her home has spoken the phrase “He goes before us” several times before beginning this study and that is exactly what God has done. Gone before us to prepare our lives for this time to celebrate each other and celebrate our victories in Christ. Don’t you just want to give Him some praise ?!
Posted on June 20, 2008 2:17 PM
Oh how I love my friends!! Life and the journey is so much better with them.
Praying for the weekend and all y’all are doing. Truly can’t wait to hear.
Enjoy! And, just have fun!
Posted on June 20, 2008 4:45 PM
I literally spent upwards of two years praying for REAL women friends, when everyone at my church (the one mentioned in the article you link to), where I have attended since prior to the launch 10 years ago, assumed I had lots of friends because I know lots of people. But saying hi to people on Sunday morning isn’t the same as relating on a deep level with them.
After a lot of persistence, God answered my prayer — in spades, as so often happens. I now have a number of great women friends who enrich my life, who I can share all of me with (even the parts I’m not so proud of). It’s truly the best way to relate.
Posted on June 20, 2008 11:32 PM