So, seriously, last Thursday I had a W-I-C-K-E-D day. Everything went wrong from the moment I woke up. I dropped the vacuum cleaner and it broke; *fyi…how does one even drop a vacuum cleaner???* I decided at the last second that I was going to seat us at our dining room table which was covered with junk and I needed to iron a tablecloth; I realized at 8:00 am that I had forgotten to make the cinnamon buns; the OVERNIGHT cinnamon buns; shut my foot in the door; *a door I was probably slamming out of anger and frustration* and there were six women showing up at my door at 9:00 am expecting cinnamon buns and coffee and everything in my usual OCD-orderness. *as if that’s really a word*
To top it all off, two of the said women showed up a few minutes early. I was totally freaked and stressed out. So I did what any woman-who-has-the-best-women-in-her-life would do. I handed the spatula over to L and said, “scramble these eggs” and said to D, “please set the table.” And I kept right on going.
Did I mention these women are my small group, aka The Best Women In My Life? *disclaimer: there are more women who fit into this category but they are not currently part of my small group*
These women have been lifting me up, holding me up, putting up with my crap for the last year or more and I truly have no words that could come close to adequately describe how I feel about them. But, in bullet format, I shall attempt to:
- they have loved me when I was definitely a prickly pear;
- they have loved me when I slammed doors in their faces (if not literally, then most certainly figuratively but some of them literally);
- they have cried with me;
- they have cried for me;
- some of them have cried because of me;
- they have brought me food;
- they have brought me iced tea (aka known in the Smith household as “Liquid Gold”… it is that good);
- they have texted me and expected (and received) no reply;
- they have called me and I have not picked up and they have continued to call;
- they have sent me cards;
- they have brought me gifts (have I ever mentioned that my #1 Love Language is gifts?);
- they have gone behind my back to check on me (my husband and children have been known to cough up the goods at the drop of a hat);
- they have guilted me;
- they have called me out;
- they have loved me; not just fluff love…tough love…bible-thumping love.
In other words, they have loved me as they have been called to love me by God; as Christ loves me; as Christ loves them.
They would say (and have) that they are just doing what we do. We made a commitment to each other. Unspoken, but a commitment just the same. We will love each other.
Period.
Blessed beyond measure by these women in my life?
Doesn’t even begin to cover it.
Ephesians 4:2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,
1 Peter 1:22 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart,
1 John 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.
Proverbs 17:17 A friend loves at all times…
susanwheelersmith.com 