Friendship of the Truest Kind

Last week was a veeeeery interesting week, not only because Tom fell off the ladder while fixing the gutter and badly sprained his ankle (he's doing a bit better now... could have been SO much worse), but also because in a period of five days I got to have lovely visits with three dear friends.

Friendship is such a beautiful gift, isn't it?! I was remarking to Tom how funny it is that I can be friends with people of different ages, of different backgrounds, different lengths of time in nurturing those friendships, yet still feel so connected, so comfortable, and so loved in each and every one of them.

I love to laugh, and one of my oldest and dearest friends and I have that gift in spades. Though we see each other only a couple of times a year around each of our birthdays, we pick up the conversation as if it were simply on pause, and we're off and running... and laughing! It's so good for the soul.

Another good friend and I share a love of tea and decorating and British baking shows. We take turns fixing lunches of tea sandwiches and scones. She brings out a different side of my personality, yet she is just as precious to me, just as treasured.

There is a friend I confide in. We have shared similar griefs. We have walked the same road at different times and have encouraged one another along the way. I know I can tell her anything about me... ANYTHING at all and she won't be shocked, she won't judge, and she won't share what is not hers to tell.

Other friends are amazing prayer warriors. They have shown up in so many of the hard moments of life, lifting me up, helping however they could to share the burden and lighten my load.

We all have friends like this, at least, I hope we all do. Life is richer for them, and they are all a true blessing from the Lord.

I can honestly say that my greatest blessing of friendship, at least here on this earth, is my husband Tom. With other friends I put my best foot forward, allowing them to see only the curated parts of me. I guard the not so pretty, the downright ugly, and the most honest aspects of myself. With Tom, I'm totally me, almost one hundred percent Gayle with all that implies... and implicates.

Did you catch that last part? That word... almost. You see, I am closer to Tom than to any other human being on this earth. He has seen me at my best stellar self, and he has seen me at my absolute worst. He loves me through it all, but even he doesn't see the full picture, because he can't see into my heart, my mind, my soul.

I'd love to tell you that the only thing residing in those places are rainbows and moonbeams and all things gloriously happy and perfect, but of course, you'd see right through that, now wouldn't you?

As much as I appreciate my dear friends, and as much as I love and adore my Tom, there is only One friend who knows everything about me. There's only One friend who sees into the deep recesses of my heart. Only One knows the thoughts that pass through my mind, both the fleeting ones and the ones that linger, tempt, and convict.

This friend is my oldest and dearest, for He has seen me through literally every moment of my life. With Him there is no presenting a curated "me"... no trying to hide behind a pleasant facade, for He has already seen the real deal, and against all reason and logic, He loves me still.

He is my greatest ally, my dearest confidant, and my greatest cheerleader. He offers only good to me, yet I can't begin to tell you how many times I have broken His heart. I have done it unknowingly. I have done it willingly at times. He never walks away.

There is nothing I can say or do that will rattle Him, shake Him to His core, for He knows it all already. He has seen my story from the first page, and he has already read the last. He is its author, after all.

On every page there are things I'd love to erase, blot them out like they never happened. He knows. He has already taken care of that. What could have presented as a tragedy has become a rags to riches story. Only He could have done that.

He, and He alone, is my very best friend. He is the truest friend. He is the long-suffering friend. He is the redemption of my yesterdays, the joy of my today, and the greatest hope of my future.

His name is Jesus, and He will be your very best friend too, if you will only let Him.

In two days we will mark His death upon a cross to win for us forgiveness, salvation, and eternal life. He wasn't killed. No one took His life from Him. He willingly laid it down for me... for you, because of the profound love He has for each one of us. It's almost inexplicable, inconceivable, yet so very true. No matter how long you search, how hard you look, you will never find another friend like Him.

What a friend we have in Jesus! Friendship of the truest kind.

"Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends." - John 15:13