~Friday for Friends~
It's summer time, and I am with my family again. I am SO happy to be around my crazy bunch of siblings as well as with my parents. But what that also means is that I am miles and miles away from my two best friends. Which is not fun.
I don't get just to text them about anything and get a million random texts in return. I don't get to ask last minute if I could bring a movie when I'm invited to one's house. I don't get to complain about homework with them (because there is none - that is beyond awesome!). I don't get to have lunch with them. Or come in randomly to the Egg and I where one of them just found a job. I can't just have an hour-long discussion about crushes and jobs and roommates and God.
Don't get me wrong - I love spending time with my family. I love playing games and walking the dog and watching movies we've watched a million times and gathering together to watch YouTube videos.... But it still hurts when you can't combine those two worlds. Because no matter how amazing email and Skype and Facebook are, there will never be a suitable substitute for hanging out.
These are obviously not my words, but the words of Paul to the Philippians. But I just want to repeat this for my friends now and for my family for all the time I was gone for college last year and will be next year.
"I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:3-8 (NIV)
How about you? Have you ever been far away from people you loved? How did you get through it?
It can be really hard living far away from your best friends. I know the feeling, I live in Texas and my best friends are in South Carolina, Pennsylvania and Washington state. It's pretty hard to meet up. I've had to communicate over Skype and phones, and it just doesn't compare to being able to talk to them in person.
ReplyDeleteSometimes its really hard to know how to get though it, espechilly since it is different for everyone. But some stuff that works for me is remembering that even though it seems really hard, it really is worth it. Cause our relationships are all we take to heaven with us. Even though you can't be with them, sometimes that's one thing that makes you so accessible. You don't have the pressure of 'you have to get together to talk.' Sometimes being detached from things makes you easier to talk to, even if it isn't what we want. For keeping up communicating, I love finding new ways to connect. I ran a blog with some friends awhile back, and that was a lot of fun. Sometimes I'll watch movies with them and chat while doing it over texting, or skype messaging. I love sending letters and emails. Reading books at the same time is also pretty cool. My friend and I read though a whole series by just having a set amount of chapters a day.
And God gives grace to those who ask.
I agree, nothing we ever do online, or phone will ever be the same as sitting in the same room and hanging out, but there are more ways to bridge the gap then people think.
So I know how hard it is to be apart from those you love.
I hope you find a good way to get though it, and reach them even when your miles apart.
-Mikayla-
Mikayla, thank you so much for your comment! Yes, preserving the relationships is so totally worth the trouble.
DeleteRunning a blog with friends sounds like so much fun! Is that blog still up and running now? And watching a movie together also sounds cool... Except for I talk way too much during them :)
Hope you get to grow closer together while miles apart as well!
My best friend we are both runners and I hope that I can be back to running with her ASAP . Been messaging her back and forth. I've learned that friendships are essentally temporary though : )
DeleteYeah, it was a lot of fun. Unfortunately it is not. School and other commitments got in the way and its now shut down.
DeleteHaha, I talk all the way through as well, but it's more fun that way. ;D
-M-
Evan, some friendships do only last a little while. I hope you find a friend that will stay for years and years and years, though!
DeleteMikayla, yes, that is the absolute best way to watch a movie :)
My two besties live in completely different states from me so we rarely see each other. Then jobs and adulting comes in our lives and we rarely talk now. We still are close but that long-distance is tough.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by my blog yesterday!
That's too bad, Kara! I'm glad you guys still are close. It is SO tough....
Delete'Welcome, thanks for stopping by mine!
I remember when I had gone to Church camp fro the first time without my sister. When I say we "stick together", I mean seriously. We're veeeeerrryyyy close. So, I went to camp alone for the first time because my sis didn't want to go, and I had a panic attack the first few days I was there. I remember sobbing in the bathroom. If I didn't have nice friends or a friend of my parents and of mine to comfort me, I would have been in a huge mess. They comforted me and asked me why I was crying and tried to persuade me to stay at camp. I did and I'm so grateful for friends like them. They're the ones who won't abandon you when you're in a mess. The lady who had also talked with me about it is such a wonderful woman. I love her! She follows Christ with all her heart and I love her so much. I thank God for them. <3
ReplyDeleteI know this may sound weird to some of ya'll (coming from a complete stranger), but have you ever gotten that feeling that you really want to meet bloggers and their followers? It's crazy. I'd love to meet a lot of you bloggers! Please don't take that weird. *bites lip worriedly* (That was totally off topic. Lol)
God bless you!
I am glad you had people there who could comfort you!
DeleteIt doesn't sound too weird. There are so many amazing bloggers out there!
So am I. I don't think I would have been able to stay at camp and find new friends without them. :)
DeleteIncluding you!
Plus the phones didn't work at camp so I couldn't call my parents. Lol