Cynthia Ruchti
About the Author

Cynthia tells stories hemmed-in-Hope through award-winning novels, novellas, devotions, nonfiction, and through speaking events for women. She and her grade-school sweetheart husband live in the heart of Wisconsin, not far from their three children and five (to-date) grandchildren.

(in)side DaySpring: things we love
& you will too!
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(in)side DaySpring:
things we love
& you will too!
Find more at
DaySpring.com
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Comments

  1. Dearest Miss Cynthia,

    Thank you for sharing the words our loving Heavenly Father has laid on your heart, I can genuinely relate to your story… I am 20 years old and almost a year ago now the good LORD blessed my life with the wonderful woman of GOD I now call “Mama.” My mother went home to Jesus when I was young and I didn’t realize just how much I was missing. My Mama has challenged, encouraged and cared for me more than anyone has in a long time. I love her so much and I honestly don’t know where I would be today without her. Praise GOD. The “Jackie” in my life is named Mama Jen. Thank you again for sharing and I pray your day is blessed!

    This side of Heaven,
    Summer Rae

  2. Cynthia,
    I was struck right from the start of your wonderful post…Jackie’s mission in life was to bless others. I think when we live with that as our intention, with Christ at the helm, God will open up some paths to lifelong friendships! I think we need friends who are Christ followers from different generations. I’ve been blessed with a few women, older than me, who have shed such wisdom on my circumstances. I don’t know where I’d be if they hadn’t walked me through some of my trials, struggles, questions, and doubts. To have such a friendship is such a blessing. One of those women has gone to be with the Lord, but I am so thankful that God ordained that our paths would cross. Now, as I am finding myself being the “elder” one, I pray the Lord will use me in the life or lives of other young women. I think being open to being a blessing is step one….I love your daughter’s response. Our faith, as they say, is not so much taught as it is caught.
    Blessings,
    Bev xx

    • Caught rather than taught. So true. We wonder if we’re saying the right words when living God’s love openly and tenderly before others speaks far better than words ever do. Thank you, Bev.

    • Michelle, today might be the day–if she’s still here–to send her this article as a thank you note to her. I’m doing that for my Jackie. As I look out my office window right now, I can see the century-old farmhouse in which she still lives.

  3. What a treasure you are for each other and for Jesus. Thank you for sharing. I have two friends with whom I share a similar deep friendship.

    • And although I didn’t go into detail about it, I have such a sweet circle of caring friends of all ages–some younger, some older, some in my stage of life–who have my back spiritually, physically, relationally. What beautiful gifts! How much better life is with those godly women beside me!

    • Thank you for that comment, Tim. I have a feeling you’re the kind of pastor who prays for those connections for your congregation. Bless you for it.

    • Smiling, Karen! It amazes me that Jackie reports she had been praying for a close sister-friend at the same time I was. We just didn’t know we’d find each other a cornfield away.

      • I JUST moved to a new neighborhood with some young moms and want to invest in them….if they want! When I was their age I would have given my right arm for that kind of relationship.

        • I was blessed enough to have a mother-in-law that became my best friend and mentor. I became a Christian before I married but knew little she taught me so much. But sometimes you need someone you can pour your heart out too that is not your husbands mom. May God bless you as you reach out to these young women. I would have loved to have had that when I was transplanted from city to country when I married not knowing anyone but my husbands family. I didn’t even drive sometimes I felt so trapped and then before I knew it I had 2 little ones, oh for that special friend you can trust with anything. I am sure there are lots of young ladies just waiting for you. May God presence be with you and felt by each young lady you meet

  4. What an amazing story of Gods love for you. He knows we each need a spiritual mentor, a friend we can be real with, one you don’t have to have it all together with. I love that and too have been blessed with a Godly sister. Thank you Father for the many examples of your love for us.
    Blessed by your message.

  5. I want to be that kind of friend and I want to have that kind of friend! And I know the blessing went both ways between both of you, God’s favor was in it all the way. Thanks for sharing this beautiful story that should inspire all of us to go further in our relationships with those around us.

    • Kathy, I appreciate your words. My heart is drawn to several young women around me, some who KNOW I’m praying for them, others who don’t yet know it. And the beat (of God’s heart) goes on. And the beat goes on.

  6. I read a phrase once, ” Be the person you needed when you were younger. ” I think applies to a lot of us. This is such a wonderful story, a true ” Lifetime ” movie with all that silliness. And I love that your daughter looked for tears. Your picture is cute, forever young, you don’t look like grandma.

    • May this be an encouragement to anyone STILL waiting for that forever friend. I’ve been blessed to have had many through the course of my life. With some, we still sign our emails to one another, Forever Friend.

  7. I know Jackie and love her dearly. She and Tom were so kind and friendly when we moved into the neighborhood. I really miss hearing your voices on the radio and I miss seeing Jackie and Tom riding their bikes past my house. What a great relationship you have with her! Next time you talk to her tell her I said hi!

  8. Cynthia.
    This was beautiful, and what a blessing for you to have met Jackie.That was so sweet of your daughter, I could picture her looking for the tears.
    “And a godly friendship set the table for a new generation.” Thank-you for sharing this with us.I am thankful for the Jackie’s I’ve had in my life.

    Have a blessed day all,

    Penny

    • Penny, this was as much of a reminder to me as to anyone reading it. Friendship like this are worth cherishing, especially when they draw us closer to God.

  9. What a blessing! I so envy you.
    When I was living in Chicago the same thing happened, I was invited by this friend who asked me to join their book club. That started such a wonderful journey of praying together until my husband and I had to move to another state discerning God’s call. Since then we had to move again. Until now I couldn’t find the prayer partner like I had while in Chicago. I’m still praying and believing God for His miracle. Thank you for sharing your encouragement. I pray for all of us that such divine encounters will continue as an inspiration to all that praying together is even better than praying alone though there’re times and seasons for everything. Cheers 🙂

    • Thanks, Serena. It’s interesting that Jackie came from Chicago prior to moving to the farm that would be “next door” to mine a few years later. In HIM we live, and move, and have our being. Praying He will move that sister-friend close to you very soon!

  10. Ahh Cynthia. Your Jackie was my June. My lifelong discipler/mentor. I met her when I had just a 1 yr old. For kids later, she still always had time for me. She became Gramma June to my kids. We had joys and heartaches. I helped nurse her husband as he was dying and 6 yrs later when her husband died.
    21/2 yrs ago, the LORD took my June home. This woman who mothered me and loved me and encouraged me and scolded me when it was needed wad the most influential person in my life. She continually pointed me to Jesus in every conversation we had. I had her in my life for 38 years. I only had my own morher for 21 years.
    I am thankful for this blog and to God for giving you Jackie. Be thankful for her everyday.
    I so miss my June. And pray that I can be a June to someone for that long.

  11. I love the same Jackie you do! What an encouraging gift she has been to me all these years too. Such a sweet, giving spirit and a tender, loving heart! I moved across the country 28 years ago and Jackie’s prayers have followed me wherever I go.

  12. This truly touched my heart and had me in tears. I am recalling the women in my life who were mentors and friends, both to my mother and myself. God always places people on my life to keep me accountable, and not only have some of those people been older, a couple of them have been younger women who were managers over my department! I guess this may seem off topic, because I can’t say that there has only been one very close friend like this; there have been multiples. And in turn, there are younger women whom I have known since their teens that have looked to me as a mentor–and that sometimes feels almost awkward. I just keep praying through it.

    Another note: you must have found the fountain of youth, because in your picture you look 28-30 yourself, not someone who has children ages 43 and 40!

  13. What a wonderful post: it made me cry. My ‘Jackie’ is called Renee: I could pour my heart out to her as to no one else and I have been there for her at times of need. Her friendship still blesses me but it has changed as she now has dementia – she is still unutterably sweet but I miss the person she was. I pray I can become a ‘Renee’ to some other woman.

  14. Cynthia,

    God knows what we need when we need it. So thankful for friends-mentors who walk us through trials. I have a few mentors with whom I can share life. I can call or text them when trouble hits and they are there to listen. Now I feel it is my turn. I will be someone’s Jackie. I will listen to your troubles, pray for & encourage you if needed. Also if health issues arise then I might make a meal to help out.

    Blessings 🙂

    • I’m talking to my Jackie in a few minutes to capture the encouragement and receive the blessing of her prayers for me as I head out to three events out of state this week. I will tell her how much of an impact she’s had on people like you, Beth, who have said, “I will be someone’s Jackie.”