I know, I know, I haven’t written in a while (yes, Floyd, this time I haven’t written, it’s not your email *wink). You want the honest truth of it all? I’ve been in a rut with nothing to say. And I figured it was better to say nothing for a while than to try to force something that would not reach anyone at all. After all, I started this blog in a desire to reach at least one person’s heart every single time I wrote.
Just a moment ago, I opened a post from my friend Duane Scott. The post is titled, The Power of Friendship. After a good moment with a friend who came to help him move his desk, he was speaking with his dad and in the conversation he asked his dad what happened in relation to how people used to go to each other’s houses all the time. The line that he wrote from his dad really hit me,
“I don’t know. The world just isn’t that way anymore.” He turns back to his computer. “We have email instead.”
I sat here thinking about that line and was found myself mourning friendships. I remember when I was growing up that we used to play outside all the time, we went to friends houses constantly, had neighbors and good friends from church over all the time, had picnics in the park, etc. and we loved it. Sure, it was a lot of work, and we may have complained up until the moment everyone got there, but when all was said and done, we had a great time and looked forward to more. I remember that when we moved to this area we started off in a small church called West End Baptist. At that church we met a family, the Gonzales’, that to this day we are still friends with. For years we would all go to eat after lunch together, hang out at each other’s houses, etc. Over the years, and church moves for all of us, we lost that somewhere along the way. Through a change in my son’s school, we met up again with the Gonzales’ and though we all still consider each other friends and still love each other, I find that I miss those days of old.
I’m very much a shy person and have very few close friends. Unfortunately, between school, work, children and just the every day demands of life, I haven’t been able to hang out with my close friends very often, and I mourn that loss. I think we should all mourn the loss of friendships, but beyond that, I think we should strive to make time for our friends, even if it’s just 10/15 minutes to swing by and say hey on our way to the rest of our busy lives. 10 minutes of face time can go a long way.
Well said.
Thanks, Jason
Love the thoughts you’re sharing here, April. As part of the Internet generation, I do lament the lack of FaceTime (funny! My iPhone capitalized FaceTime with autocorrect). And lamenting that comes from my memories growing up, the church people tended to get together after church. My parents were quite consistent having friends over after after church. Now not so much, mainly Mom is older, dealing with Dad in the nursing home, working full-time. Myself I tend to have a harder time inviting people over. I’m renting a room and don’t always feel the most comfortable sharing my friends with my roommates or vice versa. Definitely trying to do more.
I know how it is to not always be comfortable inviting people over for one reason or another. Maybe a night out or a day at the park would be good. I am trying to find ways to catch up with my friends too
Great point April. We get so busy in life we forget that the best things are simple times spent sharing life with others… I’m guilty of it too. I’m gonna try to make a point to slow down and make an appearance in someone’s life… hope they want me!
Missed you while you were gone…
Very true!! This is why us 4 girls are very persistent in calling each other weekly, seeing each other when we can, having a sleepover once a month, etc. I think all you wise ladies taught us something very, very special, and I’m so thankful we latched on to it!
I love watching the four of you stay close over the years and changes and distances. I am proud of you all!
Whoops, having a sleepover once a year***. Man, once a month would be so nice, though.
I miss our sleepovers! Miss my girls!!!