Cherish your Friendships

Cherish your friendships.  Life can change suddenly.  I received the phone call in the evening of last week.  My friend Susie had died suddenly.  I could hardly believe this news.  After all, she hadn’t been sick as far as I knew.  As news spread among her friends, the overall response was shock.  I think the suddenness and unexpectedness of her death stunned everyone.  And yet we never know when our last day on earth will be.

My thoughts turned to the many discussions we had.  Susie and I loved to read Andrew Murray’s books.  She referred to him fondly as Brother Andrew.  Abiding in Christ became a frequent topic of conversation between us.  We struggled with giving up control and surrendering.  But we both knew that that in order to bear fruit we need to stay planted in the Vine.  After all, we were the branch and the job of the branch is to yield and receive from the vine.  We talked and talked about our struggles to surrender and depend on the Lord in all things.  John 15 came alive to us as we talked and talked.  I can still hear her Texas twang.  Oh how I loved the sound of her voice and how different it was from mine.

Susie was passionate about mentoring younger women.  For months, I would go to her home each week as we worked our way through the mentoring program Called to Obedience.  I realized that she mentored many others but I was amazed by the number of women.  In turn, many of those women mentored others.  I love that ripple effect!

Susie was my supervisor when I volunteered for seven years teaching in the children’s program of Bible Study Fellowship.  Each week we had training sessions in preparation for the next day’s class.  At first, I had to get used to Susie’s direct approach.  She would call on us and I wanted to be prepared.  But I soon learned that she had a heart of love for each one of us.  And my heart warmed right up to hers.

Psalm 116:15 says:

“Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.”

How thankful I am for Susie’s friendship.  It causes me to realize that we really don’t know when our last day on this earth will be.  So I want to cherish those friendships.  How about you?  Are there people in your life who have taught you and walked alongside of you?  Take time to thank them.

I can almost picture the scene.  One moment Susie is here on this earth and the next moment she is in the arms of Jesus.  I can picture her smiling face and hearing her speak with that Texas drawl.

Blessings and love,

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