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November Days of Thanks: The Heart of a Friend

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…and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. Proverbs 18:24

In this post for the November Days of Thanks series, I’m highlighting one of my greatest joys: a true friend. There’s nothing like the love, support and spirit of a friend who’s genuinely so, and I’m grateful for all I have.

Earlier this year, I wrote a post on honoring girlfriends, and here today, I’m reposting that entry as I feel it captures the sentiment. Enjoy.

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Girlfriends in May

May is a season of celebrations – graduations, holidays, Mother’s Day, and weddings. It continues our welcome to spring, bringing together families and neighbors at cookouts and special gatherings.

I especially have appreciated time together with my sister friends – catching up, sharing the latest gossip, and giving advice for life’s challenges. It is in that spirit that I dedicate May here on the New Day blog to the theme Girlfriends in May, in honor of the blessing and gift of sisterhood.

The Word says, Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. (‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭4‬:‭9-10‬ KJV) I think all of my sisters reading this can agree: there’s nothing like a girlfriend to make life a little better. The support, the trust, the love found in a true friend can’t be matched. The tears you cry, the pain you suffer through, even the happiest times – when you can pick up the phone and make that call, all is well with the world.

We need to do more of that: support, love, trust. We need to honor who we are by honoring those whom God has placed in our lives and across our paths. His plan for sisters in our lives is purposeful. Thank Him for this gift.

In this season of beauty and renewal, celebrate the sister girls in your life! Let them know you appreciate their presence in your life. Send a card or a note, go shopping, take a fun night out – do something! Make it purposeful. Life is too short… Well, you know the rest.

I admire a particular friendship, a true sisterhood, my mom shares with two great women of faith. They worked together for over 35 years until their retirements. They bowled together, celebrated birthdays and holidays, laughed together, called, visited. Their friendship is still strong today, and they call each other sister. My mom recognized them at her retirement party last year, and they shared the sweetest sentiments. I almost cried. Well, I think I teared. That meant so much to me, and I was so glad for my mom. Love them.

Happy May, sisters! Enjoy and celebrate and bless your girlfriends!

What has been the greatest blessing of your truest friends?

November Days of Thanks: Unexpected Grace

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For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Jeremiah 29:11 KJV

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November Days of Thanks was a series I participated in last year on Instagram. Each day I shared a picture that reflected something for which I am grateful – family, fall, etc. I’ll be posting photos in the days of thanks campaign again this year, and I invite you to follow along. (You can access my Instagram account through the icon at the top of the page, or look for the widget in the right menu.)

Here on New Day this month, I’ll also be blogging the thankful series each week, offering thanks for blessings granted. Now I could never, EVER contain those to four blog posts, but I will use the space to reflect on what stands out most for me this year. I begin with this blog:

When you aren’t looking, life has a way of sending you down a path you may have never meant to take. I mentioned in last week’s post how faith writing wasn’t something I thought I’d be doing. Now, I don’t think I could see myself committing this gift to any other place. Here is where the fire burns for me. I have to write.

Without God appointment, I wouldn’t be able to write, anyway. I wouldn’t be able to do anything without His favor, His grace, which He generously gives to those who have open hands and a heart to receive. For me, grace is not often announced with balloons or loud party whistles, but as a soft, unexpected whisper. You have to be in position, within spiritual hearing distance, to discern His voice telling you to go. Then, when that seed is planted, take hold, make space for it to grow. Heed the grace.

I’m so thankful for this space, for the gift I’ve been given to express faith through words. It’s been a delight to meet such wonderful friends along the way.

But while I’m thankful for the gift, I must bow to the One who gave it. It’s His gift, His grace that’s bestowed, all so that His name will be glorified on earth as it is in Heaven.

What’s an unexpected grace you are grateful for?

Follow Your Dreams

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I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. Psalm 32:8 KJV

All this month here on New Day I’ve been sharing writing from a Christian magazine I published several years ago. It’s been fun to revisit the pages in PRAISE! where faith words first flowed. Continuing that venture now through this blog has been equally as fun and rewarding, and I thank you for following along.

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Early on, the dream to write and share from a faith perspective was one I really never knew I had. Sure, I’ve loved words ever since I learned to write, but life has a way of expressing itself and showing you the particular path you are meant to take. When God planted that seed in me, I gave it space to grow and haven’t looked back. It’s a fire that, so far, hasn’t been put out.

I remember that fire being stirred in me through the words of author Terri McMillan in her acceptance speech at the 2002 Essence Awards. I recorded her words and shared them in the Fall 2002 edition of PRAISE!, hoping to stir up the gift in others, to encourage the following of dreams. I pray her words inspire you today…

“I write because it’s cheaper than therapy. I write because it gives me patience… Writing for me is like praying on paper. What I pray for is compassion and empathy, for insight, and writing helps me pay attention. It helps me worry about folks who I think deserve some. It allows me to at least try to understand our shortcomings and virtues as human beings… but also how they sometimes get misappropriated. I want to know why we do what we do, and why we’re always so surprised by the outcome.

“I also write because I want to be a better person – I want us all to be better. But I accept this award on behalf of all African-American writers whose goal is to help put a smile on a reader’s face, a fire in their minds, and hope in their hearts, because that’s all we have…”

God has placed a gift, a purpose within you. Seek His face to find the path for which you are destined.

PRAISE!Magazine was published from 1996-2003, ISSN 1520-4057.