Thursday Thoughts

In my daily devotional from Dr. Charles Stanley,  "Right Relationships" was the topic.

Hebrews 10:23-24

"23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful ; 24 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds,"

 Dr. Stanley asked the question, "Do you have certain relationships that motivate you to pursue God more fervently?" I would have to say that until recently, I didn't. I hate to admit that, but for some reason, some failure in me, I haven't had a close friend since before my daughter was born. I think my solitude began when my husband began working from 3:00 to 11:00 p.m. regularly, and no longer had weekends off. That demolished any social life we'd had. I spent my days tending the children and taking them here and there for dance or ball practice. There were intermittent periods where my husband was able to move to a regular day shift, but still did not have weekends off. By that time, I was so used to being alone, that it just seemed normal to me.

Even when I went back to work when the kids were older, there wasn't any one person I had regular contact with that was a close friend. Certainly no one to "encourage you, to pray for you, and to prod you toward a more complete faith" as Dr. Stanley writes. 

We moved from one town to another, in hopes that my son's depression would lessen, and I would have a less isolated life. Thanks be to God, my son flourished and his life was greatly blessed by our move. I can't say mine wasn't blessed, as I am happier here, but still no friend or friends that I am close to. I've developed a bit of a social anxiety disorder, as a result of this I suppose. So now it's extremely difficult for me to reach out to someone or even to be comfortable at a social gathering.

Enter blogging. 

Some folks would dismiss blogging as a time killer, a hobbie, an unnecessary activity. For me, it's my only real social activity.  Through the internet, not only have I connected with classmates I haven't seen or heard from since graduation, but I have made some very good friends. They lift my spirits, they seem to actually care about what's going on in my life, and some prod me to be a better Christian. I would rather have a long distance relationship with a friend who I may never get to meet face to face, than to have someone in my personal presence, who is a bad influence, or who couldn't really care one way or the other what's going on with me.

I have several new friends that are online, but one in particular has made a world of difference in my Christian walk. (T in MO) I also have a very special friend (D in GA) that I have actually met with twice. These two women would be people who I would make time for, who would make time for me, who would support me in whatever is going on, if we were in the same place.  I wish we could meet for a "coke" at the local Hardees or McDonald's, or run to Hobby Lobby together, but I will have to be content with talking to them via the keyboard. I am just happy to have these two women in my life and I'll take them any way I can get them.

So, yes Dr. Stanley, I do have certain relationships that motivate me to pursue God more fervently. And I have certain relationships that lift me up and give me encouragement and support. I may not be able to reach out and touch them physically, but I can't reach out and touch my Lord Jesus Christ physically, now can I? He's here with me, just the same. *happy face*