Flashback Friday: Writing Your Story One Week at a Time

 

            Yesterday I was watching a Marco Polo from one of my high school friends, and he mentioned that even though we are in our mid-forties, most of his closest friends are still the ones he made as a small child. Is that normal or unusual? I’m not even sure I know.

            But it is inspiring this week’s “write your story” prompt. What a rich treasure we have in friendships throughout our lives. What stories are wrapped up in sharing how we met friends that end up being lifelong gems. How did you meet your friends? These names that sit on your Christmas card list every year…the people you invite for dinner…the people you camp and vacation with every summer…how did you forge these friendships?

            You can go all the way back to the beginning or you could start in adulthood.

·         Where did you meet your earliest friend? Neighborhood? Preschool? Daycare? Church? Sports? Playground?

·         Who were your close friends throughout elementary, junior high, and high school? Do you still talk to them?

·         Who did you meet in college that ended up becoming a lifelong friend?

·         Have you met friends through work? The gym? Hobbies? Church? Neighborhood? Your kids’ parents? Committees?

·         Who is your longest-standing friend that you still talk to? Who is your newest friend?

I would write about how…

I met Pat and Amber before I even entered kindergarten. We all grew up in the same school district and attended Story Hour together. It wasn’t preschool or daycare…it was just a day every week when preschool-aged children went to the library to listen to the librarian read books. We had snacks and milk and checked out books before coming home again. The three of us went through all the grades together, graduated, and are still friends today. Pat’s a tennis coach. Amber designs and etches monuments. We lead very different lives, but these are my longest standing friends.

I met Angela when her family moved in next door to us during my elementary days. Her older brother was the same age as I was, but he wasn’t into Cabbage Patch dolls and Barbies, so I played with Angela instead. The difference in our ages could have been awkward at that stage, but we had a lot of fun playing together. Their family put in a pool, and one summer I was over there almost every day, splashing with them and getting very tan! We have not kept up with each other in adulthood, but I sure appreciate her presence in my life those years she was next door!

I met Lynnette when my sister and brother-in-law went to the church she attended. Lori set us up as friends by asking Lynnette to show me to Sunday School class whenever I visited. Then Lori hosted a sleepover at her house for the two of us, and our friendship solidified. Goodness, Lynnette has walked a lot of roads with me. She’s listened to a lot of heartache (boy drama) and celebrated many wins. I stood beside her at her wedding and she stood beside me at mine. We are still dearest friends, and even though we live far apart, we see each other whenever we happen to be in the same vicinity!

(The day I met her baby girl!)

I met Julie when she started working at the office next to mine when we were both students in college. We bonded over a shared break room and copy machine and went on to become dear friends and even neighbors. Julie is the only friend who has ever borrowed a cup of sugar from me – and she has helped in more of our moves than she probably cares to remember. It is because of our friendship and her inclusion of us in their church that we moved to this area and started serving together in ministry.

I met Amanda when Ryan started working at the rehab hospital where she worked. They became good work friends, and then I stole her to be my own friend. 😊 We lived close to the hospital, so when I went to visit Ryan, I would sit and talk to her almost as much as I talked to him! Sometimes I helped her with childcare or taking her kids to preschool, and we would talk through the things that were hard about life whenever a season got either one of us down. We don’t see much of each other now, but we keep up via texting!

Just a sampling of the sweet friendships I’ve collected over the years. I am so grateful for friendship and the way God has always supplied me with people to support, challenge, and encourage me – and hopefully I do the same for them!

I hope you’ll keep a record of the friendships you’ve enjoyed over the years and share with those who come behind you just why each one was so special to you!