I texted some friends last week and asked if they wanted to get together. They were eager and said they'd love to. While we were all together, one of them said that she couldn't believe we hadn't seen each other in 2 years. I argued with her that it had only been 1 year since we were last together, but she was adamant that it had been 2 years. Later that night, I looked through the old text messages and photos in my phone and was mortified to learn that she was right (mostly because I hate being wrong), but also because I truly had NO idea that 2 years had gone by.
I started to wonder where in the world the time had gone. What had I been so busy doing that I had no concept that we were 2 years down the road instead of 1 year? I once again started looking through texts and photos in my phone, and that's when I discovered ALL of the life that I'd lived over the past 2 years. I had experienced a divorce and a move just before I last saw these friends, and I had been adjusting to a new normal. And in those 2 years since we last saw each other, I had my kiddo's senior year of high school and his freshman year of college. There seemed to be a new normal to adjust to every few months! There was the addition of my new job, and therefore a BIG readjustment in schedule (and a good amount of travel added). There was the addition of some new friends, and some other friends moving away. Although I CAN remember a lot of details about what went on over the past 2 years, it is also just one big blur because everything felt like it was constantly shifting.
I'm someone who generally carries friendships for YEARS. I'm still very close friends with the people that I hung out with in 3rd grade. It's just who I am and what I do. I'm usually the initiator, the plan-maker, and the instigator when it comes to getting people together. I'm now wondering what other friends I haven't seen in a while because I've been too busy to instigate something for us to do. But, here's what is so awesome about this experience for me...there was no judgement whatsoever. Her response was simply something like “It will be great to see you!” I love my friends dearly, and I miss my friends. We are all quite a crowd. You may have heard me refer to myself, my friends, and family before as a "box of misfit toys"...and that we all are. There's never a dull moment around here! And no matter how long one of us needs to step away, the others are always still there and are eager for their return.
I think God is in the midst of all of these relationships. My box of misfit toy friends are filled with unique and amazing gifts from God, and they are filled with grace for one another. Maybe we need to remember Psalm 46:10 "Be still and know that I am God", so that we can slow down and appreciate God and the incredible creation around us AND we need to remember to cultivate the wonderful relationships we have with one another.
And, if you are reading this and we haven't talked in a while, then you should totally call me. It could have been a whole year since we talked, but my brain just thinks it has only been 1 week!
