A Blessing of Friends

The morning is crisply cool with a hint of the warm sun-filled day to come. The mid-week traffic raises the tempo on the street and the sidewalk. With the rush of life around me and the cool air on my sandaled feet, I'm looking forward to the peaceful serenity of Lucy's living room. I spy the window to her apartment; my feet hurry and stillness settles dropping slow in my chest.

I count my blessings in friends: women who enrich my life, women who laugh with me, who cry with me, who share their lives with me and who drink tea with me. Lucy and I visit once a month to drink vanilla rooibos tea in her delicate blue and white tea mugs. We sit at the window and enjoy the morning rays filtering through warming our conversation.

What I love most about my times with Lucy is hearing her laugh. Her laughter is filled with joy. She laughs at my stories of the antics of Brooks and married life. Her quick, easy and hearty laughter fills my soul. With each outburst that fills the room, Lucy is teaching me to enjoy life. Lucy's hardships are many. Her laughter does not come from a place of ease. And yet, she laughs readily and fully.

I am grateful for the presence of friends in my life. Friends show me that I am not alone. Busy with life, I often focus on tasks and deadlines, and sideline my friends. And for that reason alone I know that they are friends. There are no recriminations at the lapsed time, just pleasure at seeing each other again and catching up where we left off.

I continually strive to simplify my life and make room for friends. I remember what Robert J. Wicks said about friendships in his book 'Riding the Dragon' (see To Mom, With Love May 2010):

'Lost in our own schedules, needs and little problems, we can't respond in a generous, genuine, helpful way. Surprisingly, this is more a sin of the wealthy than the poor; more apt to be a fault of the religious elite than those of a simple faith.'

May I be a woman of simple faith.