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Image by Kup Kup Land via Flickr I might have never met her or ever heard her story. She did not run in the same circles I did. I probably would never have had the opportunity or even the reason to know her. She became a friend because an act of God brought us together when He laid on my heart her story over and over until it became clear that I needed to support her regardless of whether I knew her or not. I was a woman with children as well. She had my heart from the day I heard her story. Verna White is a Know Buddy I am proud and humbled to have her in my life, knowing God arranged it to be so.
It's been just about 4 years since our paths crossed in rather unconventional ways. A small group I belonged to at the time decided to commit to helping out Verna after we heard her story on the news. We began by sending cards and donations to a fund set up to help Verna recover and get her life back together and Verna surprised me one day with a phone call asking if she could visit our small group...she visited and she stayed...and became a sweet friend of all of us.
Verna was not recovering from an illness but from a horrific crime that nearly cost her her life as she tried to protect her daughter. I can still remember how anxious we were the day she was planning to show up to meet our group. We worried that we would not know what to say, what to ask, what not to ask. We wondered if she would think we were a bunch of zealots or worse, just some privileged women and although everyone in our group had her own story, none was quite like Verna's.
But when she arrived, it was as comfortable as if we were long time friends. Conversation flowed freely and we shared transparently with one another. We laughed, we hugged, we responded in a way people who have come to an understanding through God often do; with a complete reassurance that we were meant to be friends.
Has God ever arranged a friendship that you might never have dreamed of and blessed it with His presence? How many people in your life were brought to you by divine intervention? How many do you miss connecting with because it seems like you may have nothing in common?
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Verna will always be a treasure I was given to know. Her story is as amazing as she is and what is more incredible is that I had the privilege to tell it.
You can read more about Verna and her unbelievable story at ONE MORE SERVING
Don't pass up the opportunity to have an amazing Know Buddy in your life because you thought you had nothing in common. When God brings people together you have more than enough in common.
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August 1 is National Girlfriends Day. A day to honor and give a shout out to the ladies in your life who have had your back, made you look great when you weren't so hot, lent an ear when you needed to sound off, reminded you of your blessings when you felt ungrateful, and inspired you when you felt unmotivated.
Ladies...you know who you are. You have been my strength when I was weak, my conscience when I was thoughtless, my salvation when I didn't have a prayer, my hope at the bleakest of days, my sunshine when there was rain. You have laughed my best laughs and cried my worst cries with me. You have listened to my crazy ideas and sometimes even approved of them. You have been there to celebrate my highest highs and to pull me through my lowest lows.
True girlfriends may know you better than you know yourself and they still love you in spite of that. You don't have to ask, "Does this make me look.......?" or "What could I have possibly been thinking?' because a true girlfriend already knows.. They share lipstick, clothes, boyfriends, secrets, homework, parenting tips, diets and the kind of love no one really knows unless they too have girlfriends. True girlfriends know all of your firsts and will be there for the lasts.
Girlfriends will not only encourage you to climb your mountains, but even help you believe you can do so barefooted. They believe not only in your worth but invest time and energy when there is little reward. They fight your good fight when you are out of ammunition.Girlfriends add a dimension no one but another girlfriend can understand. We argue, debate, love, protect, defend, inspire, redeem, encourage, console, amaze, and believe in one another, We have prayed with and for one another. If a country was run by girlfriends....well you get the idea.
I have some girlfriends that have known me before I got a driver's license, graduated high school or married my other BFF. We may not see each other regularly but whenever we do get together we can catch up like there was never any time lapse or distance between us.
Our girlfriends love us for who we aren't just as much as our family loves us for who we are.
From our girlfriends we have learned about the most intimate parts of our hearts and souls that have helped make us better daughters, wives, mothers, sisters and of course girlfriends.
So today, give a shout out to the ladies in your life that you could never do without. We have done pajama parties, sorority mixers, bridesmaids luncheons, baby showers and hospice visits. We have been there, done that and will do it again when a girlfriend needs it.
Like water and air, having girlfriends is a necessity. We love our families, spouses and children but we need our girlfriends in a way that seems almost divined by heaven.
Emily Dickinson once said, "my friends are my estate." So, I am rich beyond measure to have known the ladies I have known. It is impossible to thank each and every one of you for the place you have in my heart.
Just know, "...I love you not only for who you are, but for who I am when I am with you."
Hey, Love you, girl!
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