Friend

We have been best friends since we were sixteen. (That’s a lot of years). We joke about how we live parallel lives – but that may just be because every time we speak we say, “yes! That’s exactly how I’m feeling too!” and we laugh and suddenly the world feels different, because we thought we were the only one, and there is such comfort in someone understanding you, really getting you.

We went to Paris as teenagers, splashed in a fountain even though we weren’t sure if we were supposed to, because it was too darn hot, and we weren’t going to get drunk and go clubbing in Paris because although that sounded exciting it also sounded dangerous and a little too much effort (we went back to our grubby little room instead and read books); but we were teenagers, dammit! and we would splash in a fountain, even if we weren’t allowed to. We browsed French second-hand books in the Latin quarter and talked philosophy by the Sacré Coeur, and tasted proper cheese fondue in a tiny little bistro in a back street.

It is a privilege to have a friend who has known you like that, for such a long time. I am thankful. I miss her. She lives too far away and is threatening to go farther. And who can I talk to about that?

There is one, I am reminded, and I stop to ponder the great privilege that he calls us friends, not just children, not just servants; that he confides in us about what He is doing and invites us to confide in Him.
“I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” (John 15:15 NIV)

Joining with Lisa-Jo Baker for Five-minute-Friday. This was my best five minutes on ‘friend’.


Over to you:

  • Do you have a best friend?
  • What does it mean to you that Jesus calls us friends?

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32 Responses to Friend

  1. Mark Allman 26th April, 2013 at 2:43 pm #

    It is a privilege to be a friend; to be called a friend.

    You are making friends around the world Tanya.

    • Tanya 26th April, 2013 at 5:28 pm #

      Thank you, Mark – I really am!

  2. Celeste Vaughan 26th April, 2013 at 2:00 pm #

    Consider yourself blessed to have such a good friend. You said it right…it is such a privilege. Beautiful post Tanya! Enjoyed finding your blog over at Lisa-Jo’s link-up!

    • Tanya 26th April, 2013 at 5:27 pm #

      Thanks, Celeste! Thanks for hopping by from FMF.

  3. Shelly Miller 26th April, 2013 at 1:23 pm #

    I lay in a hotel room, my best friend in the bed next to me this weekend after our time at Jumping Tandem: The Retreat. We were quietly reading after talking ourselves hoarse through four days of celebrating God and friendship. We’re meeting in London next week with our families and its the fulfillment of a whisper that only God knew. Your story about your friend in Paris hits terribly close to home. Nice to connect through FMF again Tanya!

    • Tanya 26th April, 2013 at 5:26 pm #

      Oh – that sounds amazing! I am so glad that you could all meet up – I shall wave to you from the south west!

  4. Stephanie Glidden 26th April, 2013 at 12:30 pm #

    What a blessing it is to have a friend like that for so long! I hope she doesn’t move farther away from you, but the thing about friendships like that is, time and space seem to have no bearing on them. And that’s what makes them so special 🙂

    • Tanya 26th April, 2013 at 5:25 pm #

      You’re right, of course – that we always pick up where we left off. Good friendships are like that. It is a blessing, a real blessing.

  5. denise 26th April, 2013 at 12:29 pm #

    Bless you sweety.

    • Tanya 26th April, 2013 at 5:23 pm #

      Thanks, Denise!

  6. Kimberly 26th April, 2013 at 12:29 pm #

    What a gift you have in this sweet friend! And I totally relate to returning to the room to read a book;) I think we might be great friends too!

    • Tanya 26th April, 2013 at 5:22 pm #

      Oo – I really think that we might! Wanna come round for tea sometime? 🙂

  7. Linda Stoll 26th April, 2013 at 12:27 pm #

    you are blessed to have someone stay alongside over time … blessed!

    • Tanya 26th April, 2013 at 5:21 pm #

      I really am, I know… Thanks for coming by again!

  8. Lesa 26th April, 2013 at 12:20 pm #

    Beautifully said….

    • Tanya 26th April, 2013 at 5:21 pm #

      Thank you, Lesa!

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