On Saturday, November 27, writing friends were invited to join River Lin in her home for an ethnic Japanese dish and other food carried in by the group. The primary reason we were there was to paint rocks commemorating our hopes and dreams for the new year 2011. This was to be my third year in joining in this wondrous activity. Before we started either of these, River introduced her BSU colleague with these words, "I'd like you to meet my new best friend, Mary!"
I was startled by those words of "new" and "best." I'm wary and slow at welcoming people into my circle of friends. Because of my prior experiences, I am cordial to new acquaintances, but not immediately warm. As always, my face reveals my thoughts and apparently I also murmured something aloud. So Mary explained that she was told that we're River's best friends and she was invited to be in that circle of friends. Wow! What a concept! River reminds me so much of my oldest granddaughter who is known to open herself to the world with welcoming arms, and River does the same.
As I said, I'm sloooow... So I take time to wander back to when and how I was invited to join the group by a friend from book club. And how accepting and loving they all were of me, even though I dwelt in the dark place of being newly widowed.
Leading up to the painting activity River prompted us to be quiet so that we could receive from the Holy Spirit how we were to paint our rock and the word that would typify our hope or goal for the new year.
So, the word the Spirit brought to my mind was "trust"- trust in God, trust in friends (both long-time and new).
And Thanks be to God, I'm here in this place at this time.
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| my granddaughter |
As I said, I'm sloooow... So I take time to wander back to when and how I was invited to join the group by a friend from book club. And how accepting and loving they all were of me, even though I dwelt in the dark place of being newly widowed.
Leading up to the painting activity River prompted us to be quiet so that we could receive from the Holy Spirit how we were to paint our rock and the word that would typify our hope or goal for the new year.
So, the word the Spirit brought to my mind was "trust"- trust in God, trust in friends (both long-time and new).
And Thanks be to God, I'm here in this place at this time.
And...Mary is truly our new best friend! Alleluia!
