Even though we were eating chips and salsa, it wasn’t the heat of the peppers that had tears streaming down my face. My God-given friend, Ashley, was telling me her latest story about trying to dye Easter eggs with her 20-month-old twin girls. Let’s just say it was a fail. The tears that night weren’t out of sadness, but laughter. Since I’m a mom of twin girls too, I could easily relate to her story.
Ashley and I don’t just share stories about our twins. We have shared life adventures since we were in dance class at three, cheerleaders at sixteen, and married our high school sweethearts at twenty-three.
I think God started our friendship so long ago because he knew just how much we would need each other today.
- Because I know she gets it when I quietly say my oldest is strong-willed while my youngest is an angel. How could two girls, identical in looks, born only two minutes apart, be so different yet wildly the same?
- When she is hesitant to say yes to a family beach trip with our bunch because her girls don’t sleep well, I tell her that I care more about spending time with her than I do sleep. And, who better gets traveling with twins than me?
- Or, how we offer each other advice for ways to connect with other moms in our communities since we’ve both moved in the past year. Moving is tough, don’t you agree?
Growing twin girls is exhilarating, challenging, and stretches us both beyond our wildest dreams. We have each other to call after failed grocery store trips, play dates, and pediatrician appointments. When we get together in real life for a night at the fair, with our husbands and two double strollers, onlookers stare at us with the same look they give the guy with five arms. We are truly a sight to see.
Having a friend whose life is so intertwined with mine has to be God-given. Nothing else can explain the bond that we share. Ashley texted me this passage from her devotion Instructing a Child’s Heart and I have to agree with it: “Friendships are for the purpose of glorifying God, encouraging others, showing love and compassion, and gaining encouragement to do what is right.”
Isn’t that the truth? Real friendship is about showing each other compassion when running late for lunch and encouragement after the it’s-been-one-of-those-days tears. Friendships are a unique form of love, binding individuals together through traditions, inside jokes, and advice. God gives us friends because he knows we aren’t meant to glorify him alone. He is meant to be shared, like Oreos and milk, cute necklaces, and what products work on curly hair in this summer humidity.
Our waiter came to our table and asked us if we needed anything else. “No,” we replied. We had each other. After paying, we walked outside much later than we had originally told our husbands, and hugged. We both needed that night, more than we needed the chips and salsa.
Question: Who is your God-given friend? How has she encouraged you?
By Christen Price at illuminate
Leave a Comment
Bev Duncan @ Walking Well With God says
Christen,
God blessed me with a wonderful friend and sister in Christ right across the street when I moved to NC 16 years ago and knew no one. She had also just moved to the area from out of state. God knew we would need each other for more than borrowing an egg or a cup of sugar (though we do that too). Our strongest bond is that we not only pray for one another, we pray with each other. We’ve shared everything from a cup of coffee to chronic illness to prodigal children to being teachers to now being empty nesters. I agree with what you say that together, our relationship glorifies God. Where two or more are gathered…My friend, Claire, has been and continues to be one of my greatest blessings in life.
Blessings,
Bev
Christen says
Bev,
I love how you both moved at the same time and needed each other. God is cool like that! Thank you for sharing about Claire π
Debbie says
When we left the states for South Africa we left behind this wonderful family that we enjoyed great fellowship with. The first six months we were here were very lonely. We prayed God would give us a friendship like the one we had in the states. God answered our prayer though it took some time for us to realize it. They have been there for us through many struggles and we are so thankful to God for them.
Jennifer Brown says
Love this! I’m so thankful that Ashley is in Troy now. We haven’t been able to spend much time together lately due to crazy schedules and my children are always sick but I’m glad to have someone close by that can relate to our craziness!!! She is a wonderful mom and I know Troy has been a huge adjustment for her. Small town life isn’t all that easy π but I’m thankful to have her here.
Lisa Spidle says
My God given best friend is my twin sister. She gets me so well. We live an ocean apart now but we connect almost every day still.
Thank you for sharing a mom-twin perspective. Cute girls!
Christen says
so fun! I hope our girls grow up to be best friends too π
Lisa-Jo @lisajobaker says
Oh this is so precious. Love this so so much!
Christen says
Thank you Lisa-Jo!
Tracy says
It’s so true how important friends really are. You are so fortunate to have a life long friendship like that!
Holley says
Christen, this is such a fabulous post and made me smile as I thought about my God-given heart friends too! Thanks for reminding us what friendship is all about. π
Sheila says
You are truly blessed! I crave a friendship like yours! I have many good friends, and many call me best friend, but I’ve never fully experienced someone loyal and trustworthy enough to truly stick thru the thick and thin of life!
Jennifer Kaufman says
I hung on every word of this. I crave a friendship like this, and know God has given me some at other seasons of my life. I smiled throughout as I recall going through each of those obstacles with my own twin girls, now 5. Thank you for sharing!
Jennifer says
Christen, I am so thankful to have read your post today–to pause and be grateful for my friendships. The friends who I get to walk alongside and do life with are testament to how God knows just whom we need, and when we need them. Thank you! (And I love those photos of all those beautiful girls!)
Paula McLane Jennings says
what a precious story. God certainly blessed you with a wonderful life-long friendship. that is awesome!
Kristy Byers says
My best friend and I have been friends for 30 years. We met in college and then we worked together for 6 months after college as resort ministers in Florida. (I know suffering for Jesus, but I hate to sweat.) We didn’t plan on working together during that time either. It was a surprise to us, but not to God. I eventually took her full-time job as resort missionary when her term was up. (Again, a God thing.) I lived near her when she fell in love, got engaged and got married to her husband. (Who happens to be a great guy.) I was there through the morning sickness of her first pregnancy and held her first born baby when she was only 15 minutes old. I remember holding her daughter and thinking “this baby is heavy”. (8lb 10oz). You would have thought I would have said “she perfect”, and she was; but I said “you gave birth to this without drugs.” I’ve always been the one to “keep it real.” Three months later they left Florida for the mission field where the served for over a decade in England. But my friend, Sarah, made sure we kept in touch and that I would know her kids. Both of her kids, who are now adults, call me “Aunt Kristy”. Which is special to me. I never married or had children and my only brother died not long after I met Sarah, so I never had nieces and nephews. Sarah’s daughter is in her early 20’s and attends the local Bible College where I live. I have loved having her around. She is getting married in January. But before Sarah’s daughter left for the summer she told me “I’m glad you and my mom have been good friends for so long, but I’m even more glad that you are my friend too.” Another surprise for me, but something that I’m sure God couldn’t wait for me to hear. Sarah has encouraged me by making sure we have always been part of each other’s lives. We call on our birthday and holiday and if we are ever “passing through” we always stop and see each other. She has loved me…just because I am me. What an amazing friend I have. I am blessed.
Christen says
Kristy,
What a great story. I love how Sarah’s daughter got to know you as a friend as well. I think that no matter what the distance is, true friendship can be for a lifetime. I hope Ashley’s girls call me Aunt Christen one day too! Thank you for sharing π
Tina Crispin says
I often ask myself how anyone ever goes through this life without a true best friend. I have been blessed with the very best of them; my dear Cathy is the one for me. We have been friends for over ten years now. I was so drawn to her love for Christ, and her Christ like love, I just knew she was safe. We both say its truly a God thing…she maybe 20 years or so older than me, but in heart and energy, we are always on the same page. Along with the Lord, she is my rock and refuge, the one I can always count on to stand with me through the storm. I have had the honor of standing with her through some big ones as well. They all just make us stronger and prove our love greater with each passing day. I too am blessed to call all 9 of her children and all 14 of her grandchildren mine. My life has meaning through her and I can only hope to continue to grow into the woman she believes I am. I praise God daily for the gift He has given me in my Cathy!
Christen says
I think that is so awesome that Cathy is a mentor and a best friend to you.
Melissa says
In response to Cathy’s statement, “I often ask myself how anyone ever goes through this life without a true best friend” I can respond it s difficult. This story makes me so happy yet sad too. I have never had a long girlfriend relationship. I am 53 years old and have craved and prayed bout it for a long time. I have been blessed with “snapshots” of friendships that have lasted for short periods of time in my life. We are all truly blessed in our own ways.
Beth says
Melissa,
I couldn’t agree more! I loved this post and wish I could write about a best friend. It would be so great to have someone to share life’s celebrations and disappointments with. A friend to glorify God with is a gift indeed!
Marinalva Sickler says
I feel gifted by the Lord who has enriched me with understanding that some are for a season and others for a long period. Some are loved at a distance even thousands of miles away; but all of them have a special place in my heart. Some went away and I feel their absence. I thank God for the coming and going of life. It is sometimes painful to observe our human inclinations at the same time grateful and forgetful. I’m learning to be content.
Christen says
Thank you all for sharing your comments to this post. I wrote about my friendship with Ashley because it is something rare and beautiful and meant to be shared but I also understand the difficulty of going through seasons without a best friend or even a struggle with true friendship altogether. I’ve moved several times in my 20’s and I’ve written some other posts about struggling with saying goodbye to friends, how hard it is to make new ones, and that loneliness feeling that comes when you don’t know who to call or invite over to dinner. Trust me, I get it. I think what helps me most during those times is thanking God for what I do have: my husband, my children, my parents, other people he’s put in my life that might could be friends if we worked at it. I often call Ashley when I’m feeling sad and wishing she could come right over. Even though she can’t always come, her phone calls are an encouragement to me too. So, I guess what I’m saying is don’t be afraid to call someone and share your heart because I think that is how deep friendship begins. And, you can always call Jesus π Here are those posts I was talking about if anybody would like to read:
http://theuncontainabletruth.com/2013/04/you-and-me-we-are-one-in-the-same/
http://theuncontainabletruth.com/2013/03/the-boomerang-effect-on-friendship/
http://theuncontainabletruth.com/2013/01/for-when-you-feel-left-out/
Blessings to all of you and your friendships.
Brandy says
Love this post! Just blogged about my BFF yesterday so I really connected with this! π
Marla says
Beautiful story that I am sure many would covet to be able to call their own.
Pondering…are we too over-scheduled to meet up with those God would have spill over with blessings into our lives? Are there friendships that are so great that there is just no room to allow greater friendship opportunities to exist? Are some a little too ‘ideal’ that to add another friend to the mix just wouldn’t do, in our own little ‘perfect’ worlds?
Are we open to making more friends? To allowing others who may be needing/craving that depth of fellowship/friendship to join in the preciousness that can only be found through vulnerable relationship?
Heaven will be full of ALL our sisters together in God’s presence. Will there be some there that should have been in our lives while still on earth?…To fulfill His working in and through us? Not just to fill their holes but to fill ones we may not even know exist!
Are we being a wee bit selfish in our relationships? OR
Do we have true servant hearts?….
Beth Williams says
I guess my life long friend would have to be my hubby. We have so much in common from how our family tree lines up, birthdays (ours is same), to having older parents, and the list could go on and on.
When either of us has a problem we talk about it and then pray about it. We console each other and laugh together. I knew God put us together for a reason. He knew we would need each other trying to life this crazy thing called life.
You both have cute girls. I pray they can grow up & be friends.
Vanessa says
Christen – how awesome it is to have great and life long friends! I don’t have the same lengthy friendships, but God has blessed me with amazing women in my life! The women at my bible study at Fort Rucker who stood by me through crazy amounts of stress and lifted me up so many times… and the women I’ve met through blogging who I can always go to for a virtual hug and meaningful prayer — and even a laugh π Love your piece! Hope you have a blessed weekend with your twins!!!
Christen says
Vanessa,
Are you still at Fort Rucker? I live in Dothan so not too far away! Would love to connect if you are ever coming in for a Target run π
Crystal Green says
Your relationship is definitely God given. I can’t help but agree especially since you both have twin girls and have done so much together the same throughout the years. I have been blessed with a pair of wonderful sisters to enjoy my life with. π
Jill says
Thank you for sharing your story. Not particularly having a large circle of friends, it has been a God thing to be blessed by the relationship with a woman I consider my sister. We met in the 5th grade, and except for a brief period of about 2 years, have been closely involved in each other’s lives for close to 40 years. She has been not only my friend, but spiritual mentor, and because of her teaching, my faith and understanding in the things of God have grown so much. She has sinced moved from our hometown, and her absence has been difficult, but she and I stay in touch. I love her very much, and thank God for her and what she has been to me.