The Apostle Paul says in Philippians 1:3:Whenever you cross my mind, I thank my God for you and for the gift of knowing you. (The Voice)
My sophomore year of high school we moved to Virginia. I knew that in order to make friends and enjoy my high school days, I needed to overcome my shyness and make some friends.
And that’s exactly what I did.
I made some friends whose friendship is going to last a lifetime (thanks to social media and cell phones which make staying in touch a lot easier). I think of these women often and pray for them frequently.
These friends I met when I was 16 years old.
We have all since gone to college, started careers, gotten married, had kids, and we all live all over the country.
Again, I met them when I was 16 years old.
It would take me about 30 more years to make more friends.
Sure, I have had acquaintances and people I have liked during that thirty year gap, but didn’t have anyone I could really call a friend – someone who accepts me for who I am, but isn’t afraid to show tough love and call me out in a loving way, someone I can share all of myself with, people who encourage me, but are not afraid to be honest with me. People I can completely be myself with – without judgement, but love and grace.
It was worth waiting all these years to find godly women who make me a better person.
And I thank God for the gift of knowing them.
Raelyn Pracht 