the enduring kind

Driving along, I remember with a smile, simpler days, thoughts and play. How long has it been? Let's see... we met in 4th grade- that's about age 8 or 9? That would be 43 years. Wow. That is an amazing thought. I have known Julie almost as long as my own siblings! Well, she might as well be one of my siblings. There was a time when we were inseparable. Mutt and Jeff, Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum. She was included in family vacations, part of family celebrations and practically lived at our home from elementary school through middle of high school. Then we grew up, had families, got busy...but never let go. Always keeping in touch, if by nothing but birthday cards or Christmas cards or letters. We always knew where the other was and what they were doing. Distance only kept us from being together, not from touching one another. We have rejoiced with each other in life's triumphs and shared the pain and sorrow of life's valleys. We have endured and so has our friendship.
I anticipated today with a giddy, girlish excitement. It's been a long time since we've sat and talked. It's been about 9 years since she was diagnosed with MS, that's the last time we had a sit down chat. Too long. Too, too long. And once we are together, its as if nothing has changed. We are simply friends who love and care for one another. Updates, clarifications, detailed stories of loss and love, God stuff, husband stuff, what's planned in the short term and what we're hoping for in the long term, and of course the requisite 'remember when' scenarios. We laughed, we cried and we simply relished each other's presence. Three hours later, on at least two occassions, we start to leave, but lingered longer...finally realizing we really gotta go or we'd be stuck in Friday night traffic if we didn't get moving! So, we hug, chat, hug, chat some more and finally another hug that is accompanied by the dreaded good-bye but with it are promises to do it again, soon, and next time let's include our husbands. Now that should be fun!
Thank you Lord for this friendship that is the enduring kind of relationship- a reflection of you in so many ways. I am blessed.