Sunday, July 29, 2007

Friendship

Both sermons at church today centered around friendship. (I go to one of those 'strange' churches that still has Sunday night church.) Tonight's specifically challenged me to be more thankful for the incredible friends that God has blessed me with during my life. The text was Philippians 1:1-8 and the three points were:
  1. Appreciate your friends' devotion
  2. Appreciate your friends' distinction
  3. Appreciate your friends' determination

As I have thought about these points, I have decided to make a list about friendship. The inspiration of this list goes back to my childhood. We had a set of sheets (I don't think they are still around, but anything is possible) that had the Peanuts characters all over them. They then had all these statements that began with "Happiness is..."

Friendship is...

  1. Taking you to and picking you up from the airport.
  2. A random phone call, card, or e-mail just to tell another person that you care.
  3. Asking someone if they need anything from Wal-Mart and then buying it for them.
  4. Dropping everything because you know they need a shoulder to cry on.
  5. A Papa John's pizza, paper towels, and a rented movie.
  6. Laughing so hard that you cry or think you might wet your pants.
  7. Sharing a look that speaks louder than words ever could.
  8. Putting together an entertainment center and then going back to Target to talk the manager into giving you a refund because it went on sale the day after you bought it.
  9. Taking you the doctor when you are too sick to drive.
  10. Able to overlook differences and embrace similarities.
  11. Proof reading your papers in college and seminary.
  12. Late night conversations or e-mails.
  13. Sending a book in the mail so that they don't have to go buy it.
  14. Standing in the rain to get Tony Dungy's signature.
  15. A gift.

I could go on and on, but will refrain. So, to all my friends, near and far, thank you. I know I don't tell you each enough, but I love you and appreciate all that you do.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Yes, anything is possible because the sheets are currently at our house for Jacob to use on the twin bed we are borrowing. He LOVES them. We have to read some every time he gets in the bed!

Michelle

Jane said...

michelle- I thought about that possibility when I wrote this. I know I used them at Cho-Yeh, but that has been several years ago. Glad to know they are still in circulation, but it is a scarey thought as well!

Meems said...

sounds like those sheets have been around a while and they aren't finished yet. :-)

your post today reminds me of one of my favorite passages about friends.

"Oil and perfume rejoice the heart; so does the sweetness of a friend's counsel that comes from the heart." Proverbs 27:9

there are acquaintances and their are friends... friends are few.

Jane said...

meems- My family...we are something. Just glad Jacob gets to enjoy some of the same things that we did.

Thanks for sharing the verse...I don't think I have ever really read that verse, but I like it! There is something definitely sweet about a good friend's counsel... ;)

MLM said...

meems, what translation is that?

Meems said...

mlm: the amplified- you know the one that says it so amply!

hi jane- i know you love it when other people have conversation on your blog. :-)

Jane said...

I do love it! And I thought it was a good question.