Somebody cue Michael W. Smith
Sophie - January 15, 2009
I get emails all the time (okay. maybe not "all the time." maybe more like "once a week." but for the sake of narrative, let's pretend.) asking me how Melanie and I met. People assume that we grew up together, or we went to college together, or we both live in Texas.
But oh, the real story is quite the 21st century tale.
Melanie and I actually met because she left a comment on my blog that warmed my heart and made me laugh out loud. So I emailed her, and she emailed me back, and we realized we had tons in common. And now this is all sounding strangely like a commercial for an online dating service, but that's just a risk I have to take because apparently you really can make lifelong friendships by reading blogs, and quite frankly it would be a shame if I didn't give the world wide web the credit it deserves.
Y'all, the internet is a wonder.
Anyway, now that we've known each other a couple of years, we've crossed from internet-BFF into real-life BFF territory. Melanie is one of my very best friends, internet or no. We talk all the time. Talk about all the stuff we could never, ever blog about. Don't think a thing in the world about calling one another from the Target to share an exciting Mossimo or Xhilaration discovery. We're in this deal for the long haul.
And I say all that to say this: over the last year God has taken Melanie and me waaaaay outside of our comfort zones. But what has been so cool is that He has given us the gift of walking through those changes together. It has been one of the biggest blessings of my life. We've seen over and over again that Paul is not one bit kidding about that Ephesians 3:20 business, and so when Mel told me this past Sunday night that her pastor said something in his sermon that made her think of me, my ears perked up. She knows my battles, knows my frustrations - she's even my accountability partner in an area where I'm trying to improve this year.
When Mel shared what her pastor said, I 'bout near wanted to crawl under my kitchen table. It made me squirm because it was so dead-on. But even though it made me a little twitchy, I was so grateful that Melanie spoke that truth into my life. I love her times a million.
So I wonder: who's the person in your life who's not afraid to share an uncomfortable truth with you? Who's the person who doesn't shy away when it's time for some gut-level honesty? Who prays for you and encourages you and doesn't run away when you wrestle with the same problem for the 296th time?
Can't wait to hear all about it in the comments. See y'all there.
Melanie
Melanie
Sophie
Sophie
Pam
Pam
Paige
Paige
Kris
Kris
Comments (7)
Don’t even act surprised when I say this: Pam Downs. :) Mama doesn’t shy away from a hard word, that is for sure. (And I’m grateful for it!)
But I also have 2 best friends in Atlanta that have somehow survived all my screw-ups and still stick around for more. We talk daily and I’m pretty sure that all things are contained in our “need to discuss” category- from recipes to sin patterns to new babies to boys to cheese dip to deals at Old Navy.
Even though I don’t live there anymore, the three of us have never felt threatened by that- distance ain’t nothin’ but a thang.
Posted on January 15, 2009 8:49 AM
My Chris
and my dear friend Heather, who I have known since A&M days. Now she and her husband are missionaries—heading on a journey from Peru to Canada!
Both get in my business and do so with love.
Posted on January 15, 2009 12:56 PM
a dear friend, Jane. She is always willing to listen and offer the Word to minister to me. I love her and her willingness to speak the truth with love. (even for the 139th time).
Posted on January 15, 2009 2:31 PM
I actually met my wonderful Shanna through a twins message board almost four years ago. She sent me a private message after noticing that we had a lot in common. We started e-mailing and communicated solely through e-mail for over a year. She was a huge support when my twins were babies and my husband was in Iraq during his first deployment. We started talking on the phone before I moved to Germany. I made sure she was one of the first my husband called when I gave birth to our son. We still communicate through e-mail and phone calls now that I’m living in Germany and my husband is deployed again. We have so much in common and can be totally honest with and accountable to one another. I just love that our relationship is not based on geographical closeness…moving to another country really didn’t change much. But I cannot wait to meet her in person when I make it back to the states. We’ve talked about how great it would be to take a weekend together, maybe even attend a Christian conference together when we finally meet!
Posted on January 15, 2009 3:46 PM
That is my “Fwend”, my best friend Christina… We have been friends for about 10 years, and I never expected to find a best friend in my late 20’s, but God brought us together for a purpose I would have never imagined or dreamed. The funny thing is that we both have 3 boys, and our older son’s have forms of Autism. She is actually the one that helped me get my son diagnosed.
The friendship I have with her is a small touch of a heavenly one… She is “Paul”, and I “Barnabus”…She is “Frodo” and I am “Samwise”. I will stop here before I get to sappy, but she is one of God’s gifts to me on Planet Earth..
Christina has spoken truth to me more times that I can count…She speaks truth even when it hurts, but it is done in love so I can receive it. I am a better wife, mother, friend, and Christian because of her influence in my life.
Thanks for letting me share a bit about her today…
Posted on January 15, 2009 4:41 PM
I’m still looking for my friend like that! But I do have a couple of close friends who are close to that kind of friendship…we’re just not there yet….So if anyone lives in the Dallas area and wants a friend like that….email me!!
Posted on January 15, 2009 7:04 PM
Right back at you, friend. You’re one of the best gifts I’ve ever been given and I love you more than Mossimo.
Posted on January 15, 2009 7:52 PM