There is a friend that I want to tell you about because she has been and is, all kinds of special to me.
We started out “meeting” each other around 2012 at a church in south Florida. My family was down visiting Pierre’s parents and as was our custom we went to church with them.
Dee, along with her husband, Rich, were the Jr. church leaders and as she recalls, they taught Tim (and Stef who tagged along holding his hand). Tim (6) and Stef (4) were all kind of cuteness back then and Dee remembers them coming into the room. Pierre later on in this week met Rich while working on some computer issues at the church.
Emilie and Genevieve met their daughters, Tabitha and Tricia. I’ll be honest with you, I don’t remember meeting them per se as it was a big church and I was an exhausted mommy, but we did and thanks to the rise of social media, Dee and I found each other again and started to chat. This quickly led to texting and then visiting back and forth (TN & FL) and the rest, as they say, is history!
But that isn’t really where the story ends. Dee has become Deena to our children (her “grandma” name) even my older children and they all enjoy a visit from Rich and Dee. So, what makes Dee special?
A Good Listener
First off, she has stuck around for years as my friend! That earns her top dollar right there! Being a friend to anyone isn’t easy. A friend has to listen (and my friends listen and then LISTEN some more) to all different topics, issues and life situations. Dee is always willing to lend her ear and listen to me.
“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:” James 1:19
Discreet
Then, Dee is such a good friend because she is discreet. By discreet, I mean that when I come to her with a prayer request or needing some wise counsel she listens and offers godly advice and then doesn’t pick up the party line to share our conversations with the world.
“That thou mayest regard discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge.” Proverbs 5:2
Longsuffering
Dee also is longsuffering. What does it mean to be longsuffering? People love to say, “suffering long”. YES, but a better definition would be, “patiently enduring”. Does she really need to patiently endure as my friend? Oh yes! It isn’t always fun and games with me (although I try to have that joyful spirit) and so to have Dee there to listen to my issues, hang-ups and woes is such an encouragement to me.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,” Galatians 5:22
A Sense of Humor
I have had many friends over the years. My best of friends always have a sense of humor. Let’s face it, they have to, to hang around with me – a misunderstood middle child. In all seriousness, I love having a friend who gets my quirky sense of humor. I have the side of me from my mom that loves puns, quirky jokes and quick thinking on things that make you laugh. Dee is just like me for that.
“This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.” John 15:12
Smart and Witty
Dee is pretty amazing, too because I can text her five times in a row before she gets an opportunity to answer back and yet she can keep all five topics straight. She has managed to think like me (that’s saying a lot) and is quick to keep up. She’s pretty smart along with being willing to stick it out with this quirky person, her friend, who’s brain runs faster than her mouth.
“Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.” I Thessalonians 5:11
There are so many stories and times I could talk about when Dee helped me figure something out or just listened and prayed. She is always willing to listen to my kids and play whatever game Mellie is thinking up at the moment. We are both camera shy so I don’t even have a picture of us together but just picture two friends enjoying coffee and talking much when they get together!
How do I describe my friendship with Dee after all these years? I’d have to say it’s been unchanging, fun, quirky, encouraging, godly, and loving. Friendship at its best.
A friend is one who understands the motives underneath my plans.
A friend is one who always sees the real me, yet never flees.
A friend is one who always knows the pain I feel, yet never shows.
Disgust with me when I am weak, and comprehends the words I speak.
A friend is one so soon to hear the threats that often make me fear.
A friend, I guess, ’til plain to see, is really just another me.
This wasn’t a poem I wrote but I keep it in my Bible to remind me what true friendship is all about.
“Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.” Proverbs 27:17
