Saying Goodbye is so Hard

Tonight, I received a phone call from a new friend.  She is new to me from here in Florida where we moved to last year.  As I reflect our conversation, it brings back the memories of a year ago to me and some tears.  This friend, though we had some rough patches, opened her heart and home to our family when we had no one but each other.  She helped us navigate through these new waters around us, so that we can find people of like mind.  We prayed for one another, and shared our hearts together.  Our children played with one another, watched movies, cooked and baked, attended 4H together, and enjoyed co-op together. Just in this short time, we have experienced life.  I mentioned rough patches, because we dealt with some heart things.  As she said tonight, Satan didn't want us to be friends.  He knew that we would pray for one another, keep each other accountable, and sharpen each other as we did life.  We, as Christians, worked through and prayed through these things-to overcome what Satan had intended for evil and give God all the glory.  The tears are in memory of another special time I had for 9 months before we moved with another family, which was much the same.  But this time, I am joyful in the sadness.  Joyful because this new friend is following the Lord in the journey He has for her.  The sadness is because selfishly we would like all the people that we love to stay near us, and never move away.  He reminds me of his promise: "Obey me, and I will be your God and you will be my people.  Walk in obedience to all I command you, that it may go well with you." Jeremiah 7:23

Friend, thank you again for sharing your life and making our move more bearable.  I pray that it may go well with you, as you obey your God and Father.

Lord, I lift up my friend to you.  I ask that you bless her more than she could ever imagine.  I pray that I hear of your testimony as she follows your will.  Abba Father, protect her from the evil one and keep her strengthened by your word; surround her by your people and give her peace, joy, and love.  Thank you for allowing her in my life for this short time.  In Jesus' name amen.