Friendship is a gift from the Lord. Godly friends are often the hands, feet, and voice of our Savior. He uses them to comfort, counsel, rejoice and mourn with us. I have been blessed with not one, not a few, but many such women in my life. Not because I’ve earned them, but because He knew I needed them.
Since our move to México, the Lord has kindled several new friendships as such. Two of these friends are Helen and Linda. These friendships are unique in that there is a large age gap between these women and myself. Though they have been where I am, they are now in very different stages of life. If you add up the years Helen and Linda have been married to their husbands they total almost a century. They have grown children, grandchildren and Helen has great-grandchildren. They have walked with Jesus for longer than I have been alive.
Tuesday evenings Helen, Linda and I cross the border to attend Bible Study Fellowship in Chula Vista. For the hour drive going and coming, I try to soak up the wisdom these two women have gracefully flowing from their lives. While driving we often have conversations with God. I hear deep friendship, complete trust, and unexplainable peace in their prayers. This is not something super spiritual, but the kind of relationship that comes from walking for many years through the joys and trials of this life with Jesus.
Our conversation often drifts to our study through the book of Isaiah. We share our answers to our homework and how we believe the Lord is speaking to us through this ancient book. Many times after listening to Helen and Linda share, I have wanted to pull the van over and rewrite my answers to my homework. I guess it makes sense that they would understand His Word more clearly; to know Him is to know His Word.
Helen and Linda are very familiar with my children. When I share about my day and my struggles, I don’t have to give too much background because they already know my children’s personalities, weaknesses and strengths. Usually one or both can identify with my frustration and shares a nugget of wisdom from their own experiences. These little nuggets have become a like great treasure to me. I store them away in my heart and pull them out when I need them.
One of the highlights of the evening is standing between these two women, holding a shared hymnbook and listening to them sing. Though I usually have to read and sing, I’ve noticed that Helen and Linda often have the words to the hymns memorized. I imagine that through the years the words have been etched on their hearts. These hymns have served as inspiration when exhausted, hope in times of hopelessness, soothing balm in the midst of pain, and humble worship of their King of Kings. The words remain as a constant reminder of His faithfulness throughout their lives.
Our time is not completely serious and reflective. Last Tuesday, we got the giggles while seated waiting for the lecture. Tears of laughter streamed down my face. I tried to pull my self together while Linda and Helen bobbed up and down laughing silently on each side of me. It’s nice to know that we never grow out of silliness.
Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God. Titus 2:3-4
I have always had a burden for Paul’s instructions to women in the book of Titus. I have a passion for the mentorship that he describes between older and younger women. Throughout the years I have been a part of this kind of mentorship through different programs in the church. Now, God has seen this desire and has provided these special friendships.
Since my youth, I have always been one to learn from watching and listening to others. I figure if I can learn from another’s experience without having to walk through it myself, I’ve saved myself time and sometimes grief. When we take the time to cultivate friendships with those more mature in age and faith, we are given opportunities to learn by observation.
