Series: Love
Love, real love hurts.
John 13:34-35 says, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Real love is loyal and true.
If you know what it’s like to have a friend who is so loyal and true (and funny) that after you’ve been together for a while you have some idea what to expect.
One of my long-time friends was so loyal and true…through thick and thin that I had some idea what she was thinking when I looked at her.
She was a songbird.
…a lovely jazz songbird.
Not only could she sing, she could play a good tune on the piano.
We were both Missouri girls born and bred and the instant we met something clicked. We knew all of the ole’ Missouri girl phrases and even a few silly songs.
The day we met was the first day I attended the old downtown church that backs up to the Mississippi River. That was a bit of a tough day for me. My husband preached his first sermon that day. After church when parishioners lined up to speak to my husband and to me (two separate lines) I was crazy worried about what my three younger boys were doing.
Every chance I got I motioned my daughter (who is the oldest) to take stock on the whereabouts of her three brothers.
I was concerned.
They were good boys but creative enough (and smart enough) to build just about anything. They were always particularly interested in building something and knocking it down.
The line of women waiting to talk to me was very long and wound around the pews. Everyone was gracious and each woman told me she just knew we would be best friends.
There were probably a hundred women in line and I started wondering how I could manage to be best friends with that many women.
Finally, the last woman in line came up to me. She gently shook my hand and told me, “I don’t know if we’ll be friends but I can guarantee two things. I will love you and if you’re ever in a jam you can call me and I’ll come.”
That woman turned out to be my best friend and faithful prayer partner while I lived there and for many many years after. A few years ago she went to be with Jesus. Not a day goes by that I don’t think of my songbird.
I love her and she loved me.
I loved her songs.
I loved her down home Missouri wit.
Even though we joked about my allegiance to MU and hers to a much larger school in Texas we thought alike. I told her the tigers love her and would be willing to adopt her.
I’ll never forget the day she died. Even before I got the call I knew she had passed over.
Love is like that.
Sometimes you just don’t need words.
I still miss her today. But…I know she is singing wonderful songs and I will be with her again. We both love and follow Jesus and it just doesn’t get any better than that!
Because of the promises of Jesus our love stands strong. Someday we will sing together again. We will hold each other. Most of all, we will laugh about silly things.
Spiritual Practice: Love
Love like there’s no tomorrow.
In God, Deborah
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