#3 Friends Help You “Wing It”

Not long ago, we spent a fun-filled Saturday afternoon with two other couples. It was a very simple outing, really. We had all wanted to try a local restaurant “out in the country,” that also sported outdoor activities and family fun. So we set aside that day and spent several hours just eating, talking, walking around and sharing some laughs.  We had such a wonderful time just being together. It was then that it hit me how important it is at this stage of life to surround ourselves with friends who can share in everyday activities with us and simply “do life” with us.

Arnie and I are extremely blessed to have some of the best friends in the whole world; some we have known “forever,” and some are newer relationships. Our lives are made so much richer by making personal connections with them.  Whether it is a group that we go out to eat with on a regular basis, or folks that we can call up at a moment’s notice to catch a movie with, we crave that time spent with those we care about.

Some of those that we hold close to our hearts are actually far away, physically. The phone rang at 6:30am last Wednesday and said, “Unknown caller.” I nearly ignored it, thinking it was probably a pesky telemarketer, but decided to answer.  The caller’s accent on the other end of the line was unmistakable – it was a dear friend from across the Atlantic, calling from Wales. Just hearing his voice evoked memories of times spent together and conjured up anticipation of one day seeing them again. Whether friends that live a few “states” away, or entire continents away, we treasure our long distance relationships as well.

Let’s be honest.  It is so easy to fill our days and weeks with work and the daily grind that we fail to take the time to nurture these friendships that are so important.  Weeks fade into weekends, and before we know it we have gone much too long without spending that critical time with those who mean so much to us. We give the casual, “We have to get together soon,” with the wave of a hand, and unless we intentionally make the time to do it, it doesn’t happen.

As I write this, several friends come to mind that I would love to spend time with in the coming weeks. And I am feeling challenged to make that happen. Maybe you’d like to join me in promising yourself to make a call, send a card, and make some plans.  Big plans, little plans; it really doesn’t matter.  What matters is that we connect with those whose lives have touched ours, and we make the time to “do life” together.