God's Answer(friendship series)

I ask.  You ask.  My husband asks.  My daughters ask.

Our pastor asks.  Our fellow Christians ask.  People in desperation ask.  People praising ask.

The sick ask.  The rich ask.  The poor ask.  Everyone, at some point in their lives, I firmly believe, asks God for an answer.  To something, or about something, or for some one else (interceding).

I am going to share with you today about a time I asked God to provide me with friendly neighbors and how He answered and we became good friends....

(she has given me permission to share this!)

Back in the autumn of 2000, the house next door was up for sale. The owners had been pleasant people, with 2 boys, one of whom was older than my oldest and one who was a little younger.  There was no fence between our 2 yards.  We were friendly with them, but we never really "hung out" with them.  They did bring me a cute baby ornament for the Xmas tree the year that Claire was born, since she was born 4 days before Xmas.

Well, I started praying earlier in the summer, that friendly people with little girls would move in!

(on the other side of us was a family with 2 boys as well so we were hoping for some girls!!)

I also prayed that the woman would be someone with whom I could hang out with.....I was back to teaching but it was part time and many days were the kind of days that I wanted to just hang with someone and have an adult conversation or go to the beach and do playdates with the girls, etc.

In the late autumn, the H---family arrived!  and YES!  They had 2 little girls named Morgan and Meredith.  The oldest was 3 years younger than my oldest and the youngest was just a year younger than my youngest.  We began to get to know each other and found we had many things in common like teaching degrees, a love of books, girls who liked to play together on the swingsets, sandbox, and who liked to be creative.  Many were the days when Courtney and Morgan would play-act "horses" or "horses and princesses".  We basically hung out in the backyards and went to the lakes together.  Melissa and I would bike together or walk in the neighborhood, etc.  We would eat on the deck, have bonfires together and just be "neighborly."

Of course, over time, our conversations would center around marriage, parenting and even our faith in God.  We had similar parenting styles and although we were in different kinds of churches, we found common ground.

Then, in the winter of 2002, I became very ill.  It was the kind of illness where something was very wrong but the doctor did not know what it was.  Melissa would take Claire, my youngest, who was just 3 at the time, so I could go to the numerous specialists and labs the medical profession was sending me to. Dave and I were so appreciative of Melissa and her husband P.  She would have Courtney get off the bus and watch both girls for me if I was still at the doctors or physical therapy (yes, they actually told me I had something that required PT although after 4 weeks of that, even the PT said "you must have something bacterial"...duh.....).

Meanwhile, Melissa had been telling me about her experience with lyme disease which is what Dave and I were starting to suspect I had.  (based on other symptoms, experiences the year before, etc.).  Melissa said she would pray for me. Our church at the time (a small one in the city of Troy, NY) was also interceding for us...that there would be answers and proper treatment.  One day, I called one of our elders who also happened to be a P.A. and he started treating me for lyme disease.  To make a long story short, that IS what ended up being what I had.  It had gone untreated and undiagnosed for a little over 8 months so my antibiotic therapy was intense and a 6 month process.  I also had the grueling task of schlepping my self down to a lyme disease specialist while both girls were in school/preschool.  My struggle with lyme disease lasted a total of 3 years.

There were so many times that Melissa had to take my daughters for me as I was just too sick to fully care for them my self.  Other women from my church also helped with meals, cleaning, praying, etc.  I was overwhelmed with gratitude for them.  I was in awe that God was working the way He was.  From being treated by an elder in my own church, to finding out that I was gonna be ok and that it wasn't cancer or any of the other diseases they had been testing me for.  Lyme disease is treatable but not curable really.....I still have some repercussions from it but overall I enjoy good health and for that I am most thankful to the Lord for His mercy.

My point here, as I continue in the Friendship Series, is that this neighbor, who started out as "just an acquaintance" quickly became a true friend.  She was there for me.  When she had some struggles regarding some things, I was there for her.  We call each other for things as simple as borrowing an egg to enduring long talks while we vent about the preteen years or marital difficulties.  We have even gone on a camping vacation together!  Although she is now working outside the home on a full-time basis and I am teaching outside the home every day, we still try to make time for each other with phone calls, the occasional power-walk or bike ride, or just hanging in the backyard to chat.  I know that if I ever need anything, she is there. She knows that if she needs prayer or a listening ear, or an egg, that I am there for her!

Another friend of mine, Erin, is someone with whom I can always depend on to have a listening ear.  She has been through a lot as a single mom and a working one!  We met, if I am remembering correctly, at least 16 years ago...at either a Bible Study or a home group (small group).  For years we were in the same group.  I liked her immediately, because like me, she also worked outside the home.  She also was a SAHM when her boys were very little and of course we had that in common too. (the staying at home while they are little part, not the boys part...she has boys...I have girls! ).  At first it seemed like I didn't really have anything in common with her.  I was never a single mom, and didn't get married at a young age. I didn't have a career in the city like she did.  But....  we both have had inner, spiritual struggles about things....I won't go into details here to protect her privacy but...we both have had times where we have just needed to "dump our junk".....and we have had listening ears for each other. She is my phone buddy!  We text or talk at least once a week or more.....we are both in different churches now and we do try to get together to do lunch once in awhile but.....we both know that if we really need someone to pray, we will do that for each other.  From fretting over teenagers to affirming our faith with each other, I know I can depend on Erin and she on me.  She is also someone who prayed for us during my lyme disease and who called to check on things......for that I am most grateful.

Both of these dear friends started out as just acquaintances but because we were willing to be vulnerable with each other, we became close friends.

God is in the business of putting people in our lives.....to help us do life together.

And all we need to do is ask!

~Hiking Buddies~

Faith, Melissa,

Claire, Meredith

Summit of Sleeping Beauty Mountain

Lake George

Central ADKs.

Autumn 2005

so.....remember:  friendships occur when you least expect them and as a result of prayer!  Sometimes, your neighbor will be your friend or that woman whom you don't have much in common with other than the unity of Christ....which is the best common bond!

God also answered my prayer last spring when I had been praying about whom to talk to regarding a serious matter that needed some prayer support.  He answered by providing a woman to whom I could openly share with and who helped me walk through a very difficult time......I am not free to share about that at this time but please know that if you need someone to talk with, or pray with, that Jesus does care!!  He supplies ALL our needs....whenever we need Him and whenever we ask!!