A big girl friend!

Please push pause on your listening device until you get to the next post. Then you will find the song selection more appropriate. DIdn't have time to change songs yet.


This is June. We are related. Technically speaking we are not related. We are cousin-in-laws. But we are friends and that to me is as good as related.

June encompasses all the traits I associate with being a big-girl friend. I say this because I myself have evolved from a little girl to a big-girl. All while in the midst of developing and then deepening a friendship with June. We met over 10 years ago. And at the risk of sounding like I am giving a eulogy I want to give words to my feelings. And since I have an on-line scrapbook (although not to personal) what better place to record my thoughts.

"There is nothing worse than feeling pressure from a friend, especially if it is the kind of pressure that suggests you are not doing enough Big-girl friends give each other a lot of space. There is room to come and go without feeling as if you are falling short in some way. Friendship means freedom. IF you are friends with someone who counts calls and keep score on visits, you are connected to a Little-girl who needs to grow up in her relational understanding. ...We rarely talk on the phone. We don't have to We just have a knowing that we are only one phone call away. We don't need a lot of assurance between us. There is no fear that the relationship will become less valuable or that our caring for each other will be less over time. We are friends. That was settled years ago, and that's just the way it is. I feel no pressure from her, and she feels none from me. That's the way we like it." ~Big girls don't whine. By Jan Sil*vious

That is exactly the way I would describe June. The 2 of us combined have seen, felt and experienced a wide range of life. 2 marriages, 5 kids, ups, downs and in-betweens. And umpteenth moves. This I'm sure will not be the last. But it is definitely one of the hardest. But we take solace in knowing this is not our forever home. And we are only 1 phone call away. Or rather 1 skype-call away.

Lest I drown in my sadness of another family member being ripped from my Kung-fu grip w/out acknowledging all that her family is leaving behind, (Way to many people to list, her husband Chad is also 1 of our church's pastors.) may I keep these words interspersed thoroughout my selfish thinking over the next 4 days.

"My friend, beware of me, lest I should do
the very thing I'd sooner die than do-
In some way crucify the Christ in you.
If you are called to some great sacrifice,
and I should come to you with frightened eyes
and cry, "Take care, take care, be wise, be wise!"
See through my softness then, a friends's attack,
and bid me get me straight behind you back,
to your own conscience to your God be true,
lest I play Satan to the Christ in you!
And I would humbly ask of you in turn
that if someday in me love's fires should burn
to whiteness, and a voice should call
bidding me leave my little for God's all-
If need be, you would thrust me from your side
So keep love loyal to the crucified!"

Good-bye, my friend!