De-friend

I wonder if "de-friend" was a word before Facebook came along. I wonder if you've ever been "de-friended". I wonder if it didn't bother you one bit or if it crushed you like it did me.

I just read this blog. I get it. Friendships don't happen over Facebook or e-mail. Friendships don't happen when someone writes a feel-good status update. Friendships don't happen when someone writes a nice compliment on your wall.

Friendships take time. They take sacrifice. They take loving the lovely and knowing the ugly and loving anyways. Similar to marriage, friendship is something worth fighting for. It's worth agreeing to disagree.

I canceled my Facebook account a few months ago.  I realized that I was putting too much stock in the friends I had on Facebook and not spending enough time with the friends I have in real life. (Please don't hear from this blog that I think everyone should quit Facebook. On the contrary, I think most people use it in a very healthy, non-time-consuming way.)

I have a handful of friends that know me- the good, the bad, and the ugly. They are the "pick up where you left off even if you haven't seen or talked in months" kind of friends. They are the "call when I need to be encouraged and need a good laugh" kind of friends. They are the "pray with me, for me, about me" kind of friends. I hope that the feeling is mutual:) (I'm pretty sure it is.)

I wonder, though, do you have a hard time keeping or making friends? In what ways do you maintain friendships in spite of our busy lives? What advice might some of you have in keeping and making friends?

He walked a little straighter.

Partly because reading this family's story has blessed me and I wanted to honor this precious boy and partly because Jeff and I are attending a Bible class based on this book, Sam and I decided to perform a random act of kindness this morning. (Sam was home from school- a bit of an upset stomach- but, really, I think he just wanted/ needed a day off.)

We went to Starbucks and waited for a lull in the line. Once there was one, we gave the cashier some money and said we'd like to pay for as many people's coffee as that would cover. And, then, we sat down and watched and listened.

The first woman exclaimed loudly, "What a way to start off my day!" The next man, a little elderly man, walked in with a hunched back. Sam said he thought the man walked out a little straighter. I agreed.

Sam and I loved the cashier. He would, with a very straight face, inform the customers that their tab was paid for. They would say, "What?"

And he would say, "You can put your wallet away. Somebody already paid for you."

The thing I was most surprised about was how much it meant to the baristas. When we left, they were saying things like, "That was so fun!" and "I love stuff like that!"  I loved that we could make their day, as well.

It was such a small, simple act, and I know we didn't change anyone's life. But, maybe we changed the way someone's day was going. And, maybe they'll pass it on sometime soon.

And, if nothing else, that little old man's smile will be etched in my brain as he walked out of Starbucks- perhaps just a little straighter.

Dear Sam

Today, you came home from school trying your best to hold back the tears that were welling up in your eyes. You told me that, after practicing early in the morning for the last month and a half, you were cut from the school track team. My heart broke. I know how hard you worked. I heard the excitement in your voice when you told me how you had improved your long jump or were in the top three in hurdles. And, then, to be one of the few kids cut from the team was hard- really hard.

You are handling it well this afternoon. I'm sitting here listening to you practice guitar and am continually impressed with how well you are doing. I'm sorry that you inherited Daddy and my athletic ability, but I wonder if perhaps you will end up being a writer....a song writer, perhaps? That would be OK with me! I suppose it wouldn't be awesome to have your mom be a back up singer in your rock band?

Although you may not be a competitor, I know for certain that there is no one your daddy would rather hike with. Last weekend, you and daddy climbed your first "14-er." Dad messaged me from the top and said, "Sam and I just summited Mt Bierstadt. How cool I got to do my first 14-er with my kid. I am one proud dad right now."

I want to remind you of our family theme verse. I love it because it talks about all the things that God says are important. And, guess what? Track isn't one of them.

Colossians 1: 9-12 Since the day we heard about you, we have continued praying for you. We ask God that you will know fully what God wants. We pray that you will also have great wisdom and understanding in spiritual things. Then you will live the kind of life that honors and pleases the Lord in every way. You will produce fruit in every good work and grow in the knowledge of God. Then  God will strengthen you with His own great power. And you will not give up when troubles come, but you will be patient. Then you will joyfully give thanks to the Father.