March 28, 2015
Dear Julie,
At forty, Julie, you remain the one woman whom I
continually rely on for encouragement that points me to hope and deeper
faith.
You are my very best friend, my ‘bosom friend’, and it
just so happens that God made us sisters. Of course that forges us deeper,
perhaps has made you forgive me more easily, and has helped us along the way to
see things only we could see, and learn things only we could learn through our
shared experiences (crazy as they were).
God is my Rock, Julie. But if there is one woman whom He
gave me to be my God-like rock on earth, it is you. This isn’t blasphemous; it
is His incredible gift to me in you. What a gracious gift.
For 38 years you have borne with me in my spoiled rotten
brattiness (spoiled with what? I am not sure, but you know what I mean: I was the wimp who made you ask dad
permission to do things, the crier to get my way, the one that was rude to be
right). You took in all of this and grew to love me anyway, and love me to the
deep. I wronged you so many times and you graciously forgave, and forgave, and
forgave. What a picture of Christ you have always been to me, simply in your
forgiveness.
Some may call it sisterly love, I know it is Christ in
you. Even so, I have been even more challenged
by you in your sacrificial love to those who, in the ways of our world,
deserved NONE of it. I could tell story after story of you giving your all to
help others, with no ‘thank you’, no recognition, just your heart to give a
special love that comes alongside all of people’s ugly hurt.
Thank you for your obedience and heart of mercy that has
shown me Christ in your love to others. This is shown especially in your most
recent burden of caring for our mom.
What a continual laying down of self I have seen of you in this endeavor!
Your “love is patient, kind, it does not boast, it is not
proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it
keeps no record of wrongs. Your love does not delight in evil but rejoices with
the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”
And here’s the thing. I know you struggle. I know you
have to fight to love like this. You fight selfishness like the rest of us, you
do fight the problem of being ‘easily angered’, you fight for joy when the
mundane seems to swallow you. I know this. You fight to submit well in your
marriage, to parent wisely and gently, I have heard it all from you and know
that out of abiding and pruning
(read: pain) comes a way to love like this.
And here’s the other thing. How can we remain bosom
friends when 8,000 miles separate us and our time is consumed with our families
and ministries? How can I honestly still call you my best friend?
Because it is
a holy gift.
Community and relationship is what God made us for; ours was ordained by Him oooooh so perfectly. Whether we speak to each other
weekly, or every few months doesn’t seem to matter, we pick it right back up
and connect to the marrow once again.
More than that, I do have a few friends that I speak
to often, ones I would call very close friends, perhaps some of my ‘best’
friends. About four or five of them live with me on this side of the
world. These are my other ‘go-to’ gals. Each
of these speak differently into me and are used by God, but only you seem to
sharpen me in every way. You know
when to just listen, when to ask good questions, which ones to ask, when to
speak gentle truth that helps me see my sin. You do it so well. So like my
very best friend. And that is what you have been, for 38 years now.
Playing school in the playroom, setting up our ‘grocery
store’, on the soccer field, in all the old hurts and the hurts that keep
coming, you are the sweetest picture of Christ to me.
Thank you is not enough.
I praise the God
who gave you to me and live in wonder still at His provision.
Happy Fortieth Birthday.
Love Lorraine
