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Friends

Life is built on seasons.  We're in the one of lingering autumn and early winter.  Our days are short, the frequent winds have just about blown off all the colored leaves.  The skies are filled with gray all day and every once in awhile raindrops fall and pour in torrents.  In these moody days of nature, I have found again the warmth of friends and kindness.

Yesterday, I packed up cookies.  I carefully arranged some on the snowman tray and others in the Christmas boxes.  I sealed them up with cheery bows and cards.  Then I went across the street, right next door, and to the corner to deliver my goods to each neighbor.  It was fun to catch up on each one's news.  I realized again the blessing of having such fine neighbors in our lives.  It's a simple thing to take the time, but when I do, I come away thankful and full of joy for relationships in my life.

I'm reminded of my Mom when I do those actions.  I remember well how she would make her cookie boxes.  She would use the empty Christmas card boxes, line them all with foil, and pack them full of with a variety of cookies.  She sealed them up with Saran wrap, then tie them up with ribbon, and deliver them to our neighbors around us.  I'm thankful that she portrayed for me the blessing of reaching out to others.

As I count the blessings of my friends, I realize that friendships tend to go in seasons.  There are times when we have those friends because we work in the same place or go to school together or live by one another.  But because of changes in our lives,  those friendships change.  They sometimes hibernate, sometimes linger as a memory, and may even seem to fade.  Yet, if it's just a card, a phone call, or getting together for lunch, the friendship thrives again, just like the early Spring.

So I am especially grateful this wintry day for an opportunity to celebrate my former mentor and colleague.  I'm attending her birthday celebration and wouldn't miss it for the world!  I know I'll come across other friends I haven't seen in years, and I am looking forward to our time of reminiscing and catching up.  I'm grateful that God has given us seasons to cultivate relationships and friends.  We never know how long we'll be at a certain place or in a particular time.  Yet, while we're there, we need to reach out, plant seeds of kindness, and grow our friendships with one another.  We may even find that our greater blessing of those friendships grown may be revealed in the darker seasons of our life.  And there's nothing like the beauty of fresh fallen snow on the mountains!

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