As Iron Sharpens Iron

I have this book that I keep in my toilet area (how's that for an introductory sentence?) It's called Keeping God in the Small Stuff and it was written by Bruce and Stan (Bickel & Jantz, but they write as Bruce and Stan). I gave this book to my Stan for Christmas in 2001. It sat on his bedside table until we moved to our new house. That's when I put it in the bathroom, 'cause that's just about the only quiet place I have to read and contemplate spiritual matters.

So, when I forget to read a day's entry, I go back and catch up. I've been sick and haven't kept up with the entries, so I caught up today. October 18's entry was about friends.

"Finding a True Friend" is the title of the entry. The quote at the top says, "Select friends based on their character, not their compliments." Bruce and Stan exhort: "You are now at a stage when you get to select your own friends. Don't let it happen by default. be very intentional about it. Look for friends that will raise you up to a higher level; avoid the people who will pull you down to theirs." And then they close with one of my favorite Bible verses; it's one I used to contemplate and pray over when I was searching for a mate. Proverbs 27:17 says, "As iron sharpens iron, a friend sharpens a friend." I looked for a mate who would sharpen me, so I should be looking for the same in friends.

To be honest, I don't have many friends. I have a lot of friendly acquaintances, but I can count on one hand the number of true friends I have. I'm related to two of them (my husband and my sister.) The other two are my friend Malinda and my college roommate Christi.

I miss Christi. There are days when I crave spending just 10 minutes in her presence. I have not laid eyes on her since her wedding day, which was July 18, 1998. I don't know her two precious girls, but I know they look just like their beautiful mom from the pictures Christi sends with her Christmas cards. I wish she lived closer. She lived in Texas for years, and she just recently moved to Tennessee. That's a little bit closer, but still not close enough. Maybe one day God will allow us to live close enough to be able to share our lives with one another. Until then I will have to be content with cards and letters and emails and phonecalls. Nothing makes my day like a good laugh shared with Elmer (she calls me Bubba... it's a long story that involves putting together a computer work desk...)

Malinda is the kind of person that sharpens me. She calls and emails me when she thinks about me. My oldest 2 children are the same age as her 2 kids, and they're good friends, too. She offers to let my kids spend the day with hers and vice versa, because we realize that sometimes moms just need a break.

Malinda is the person who encouraged me to go back to scrapbooking after I'd quit because *I* thought it was too hard and intimidating. She showed me the simple way to create memory books. She patiently waited for me to find the inspiration I needed to start, and she's encouraged me in it ever since. We just get each other.

Malinda might have to move. Her husband's company was bought by a larger company and his job will most likely be eliminated. She is almost certain that they will not be able to stay in this area. They will probably move to Birmingham, because they have family there. I will miss her terribly, and it's just dawning on me how much I will miss her. She is one of the few people I can really be myself with. She doesn't care if a curse word slips, and I feel totally comfortable with her. I know she won't divulge my secrets.

Friends like those are hard to find, and I might lose one. I'm a little down.