Kristen Sosebee
About the Author

Kristen is wife to one fine attorney and mama to three hilarious little humans. She is a homeschooling, tea-drinking, book-devouring Southern farm girl by day and a writer by night and nap time.

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

    • Yes….this is true! I do find it wonderful though that a neighborhood/community can reflect this Love thy neighbor” principle also!

  1. Thank you for the encouraging story, Kristen. You have been blessed and that warmth and grace shines through your writing. May we all experience such blessing as we reflect upon the love of the LORD.

    Proverbs 27:10 ~ Do not forsake your friend or a friend of your family, and do not go to your relative’s house when disaster strikes you– better a neighbor nearby than a relative far away.

  2. The way you described yourself as a country girl who prefers the smell of cow manure to perfume grabbed my attention because that is one of my favorite smells (memory trigger)! This is a beautiful article reminding us of what true friendship looks like. Thank you!

    • Thanks, Tristi! Glad to know I’m not alone in my love of the smells of the country!! Nothing better.

    • Wow, Kristen, that is the kind of friend that I want to be! Friendship in the trenches, with viruses, sorrows, dirty diapers, and MORE! I mean yes, really! Thank you for writing this.

      Tristi, the odor of cow manure reminds me of my Uncle Jake’s (20+ years older than my father) dairy farm. Those are happy memories and I still have a good relationship with his daughter who is 20+years older than me!

      Blessings to all my sisters at a distance,
      ~Kay Lake

  3. Wow, preach. I actually thought I was the only one who thought female friendships were tough, and there was just something different/weird about me. Who knew? We’re always less alone than we think we are.

    I love this so much; the willingness to be inconvenienced, in a way, choosing to suffer in order that another’s suffering might be alleviated… that is the only way to true friendship. Otherwise we are simply saying that our lives and tasks are more important than someone’s existence. Thankyou for this reminder.

    And can we just say how good Ann Voskamp’s “The Broken Way” is? Seriously, every page of that book wrecks me in some manner.

    • “Otherwise we are simply saying that our lives and tasks are more important than someone’s existence.” Exactly! Wise words. <3

  4. You are so right! When I think about the friendships that have endured the test of time, it’s these women who would drop anything for me. Thank you for sharing from your heart!

  5. Love reading this and about healthy relationships without boundaries and rules. It seems any difference of opinion or viewpoint destroys so many friendships. Wonderful piece!

  6. Kristen, what a beautiful post. I hadn’t thought about true friendship in terms of the inconvenience that can come. But you’re so right. When we love others, we are going to be inconvenienced. And in friendship, we can definitely see this. I have a group of friends from church. I call them my “go through life” friends. We celebrate each other, pray for each other, help each other when there’s a surgery or other thing. I’m learning how to be a true friend as I do life with these ladies. You are blessed to live in a neighborhood like the one you described in your post!

    • I love the term “go through life” friends! Those type of friendships are precious.

  7. Thank you very much for such a beautiful and positive sharing about community. It’s certainly astonishing to experience such a kindred community. It’s good to be able to connect in such a giving way that for once one doesn’t have to live up to somebody’s expectation. I’d been through so much negative of community that your sharing is like Isaiah 43:18-19. Thank you!

    • Thank you, Serena! Maybe God plans to use you to start a new community of giving, different from the ones of the past! It always starts with one person’s “givenness.” Thank you for your kind words!

  8. An inspiring post, Kristin. That community of women is a little taste of heaven! And the neighbor who came over when you were so sick? Wow. What a stellar example of sacrificial love. Lord, help me to be as kind, gracious, and generous as that woman!

  9. Kristen,

    Encouraging post. I feel a good friendship is built on loving & caring for each other. If that means a little inconvenience then so be it! We need to “un-fine” ourselves and remove the masks. When someone new moves into the neighborhood our little church will put together a welcome basket with a bulletin inviting them to church. It is our way of showing God’s love. I wish more people would inconvenience themselves-they just might find good friendships!

    Blessings 🙂

  10. Can you say a prayer that I will find that? Me and my husband are 27 and 30 and all are former friends still drink and party and don’t go to church and every church we have visited (5 for a month each the past half year in order to find the one we felt called to be at) we still havnt met a single couple our age or even older that has asked for our number or seemed interested in talking to us besides the hi how are ya usual at church. I crave the friendships I just read about from you for me and my husband so please say a prayer for Gods will in that area for us?

    • Of course! We have moved 5 times in the past 7 years, and I know how hard those transitions are. We’re in the middle of starting new relationships again after moving away from this neighborhood. It takes time and hard work and courage! I find a lot of the time I have to step out and initiate getting contact info and hosting things to get the ball rolling. Most people hunger for community but are just afraid to take that first step. Praying for you this morning, Robyn.

    • Hi Robyn, I just prayed for you
      I pray you find yourself surrounded by like minded people that choose to serve the Lord and do his will through you and your family. Faith is strong in you. You will find your way among others like yourself in choosing love. Friendships are wonderful. Age has little to no factor. Be blessed my Sister ✌
      ~ Molly

  11. I’ve been reflecting on friendships, too, after a move two years ago. It takes a while to settle in and cultivate connections in our new places, yet SO important to maintain our deeply rooted relationships. God provides a beautiful mix of annual & perennial friendships in a lifetime. http://ordinarythreads.com/now-and-later/

    • Yes! “Annual and perennnial relationships” is a great phrase and so true! We’ve moved around a lot and I find that’s very true.