My friend ...

I have this friend--she is my forever friend.  She is one of those people that I can not see for 6 months, and yet feel like not even a day has passed since a conversation was had in our intimate friendship.  We have had our babies together...we have raised them together.  She had two boys and a girl first.  I had two boys and a girl first.  We have experienced great joy together, as well as great loss.  She faithfully holds memories of my youngest child when he was under 1 year old, that I cannot recall due to severe illness..in fact, many times she cared for my sick little boy while I was in the hospital.  She was unafraid of my baby's food allergies and challenges--she cared for him like he was her very own, which gave me the comfort and strength I needed to get well myself.  In fact, she was there when my youngest child was born.  She was the second person to hold him.  My forever friend.
She was my faithful friend when I was going through terrible physical times, and then when she developed major physical problems, I was still too sick myself to do too very much for her--but she never made me feel bad about that (even when I felt horrible about it)--she understood. Our kids hit all the milestones together, and we were able to support one another, understand one another, laugh together, grieve together--through it all!  Many months pass between our long lunches, and we always shoot for that NOT to happen, but even when it does, it doesn't change a thing.  She is my forever friend...
We have secrets together, we have private memories that we mention every time we are together, because NO one else could possibly understand.  She cares about my life, and I care about hers, so very much.  Now, we each have at least one married child, so we are moms-in-law together...and we both dearly love our in-law kids!  She has been a faithful, loyal, rock solid part of my whole adult life, and I treasure her.  I thank God for this gift of deep forever friendship...I cherish it, and I cherish her.
Do you have a friend like that?  And maybe you haven't talked to him or her for a while?  Make the call.  Don't let another day go by before you reconnect and rekindle that friendship.  There are seasons of friendship, as far as the time of life, or location etc.  There are times when schedules and illness and other things get in the way of expressing that love and concern--but consider making the time today to do so.  That friend just may need you right now, and you don't realize it.  Maybe you are the absolute only one who can understand what they are going through. Even if you haven't spoken to your friend in years, seize the moment, reach out...connect.  A friend like that is irreplaceable, and worth fighting your busy schedule for...
Can you tell I had lunch today with my forever friend? Spending time with her is like coming home.  Thank you, God, for such a friend!