Though miles may
lie between us, we're never far apart,
for friendship doesn't count the miles, it's measured by the heart.
Another is leaving.
Tonight is her last night in Memphis, and I am going to miss her so
much.
God tends to take my strongest Christian friends, calling
them away to different cities. Different
states. Different countries. Different continents.
Names flutter through my mind as I think of the many
friends who have responded to that call, leaving Memphis indefinitely. At the thought of their absence, my heart does,
for just a second, grow a little sad—but much more than sadness, there’s
excitement. There’s joy. There’s praise. Praising His faithfulness.
God brings these women into my life for a time, so that I
may love them, learn them, so that when this moment comes I see the story from
the start of one chapter to the beginning of another, promised, chapter. The chapter where He answers prayers. The chapter where this part of their journey
comes full hilt. The chapter where He
shows you that He trusts you with the gift He is about to bestow upon you.
These women and their lives are sweet reminders that He
is good, He is faithful, and He has us.
I see God in them and through them, and because of them I am reminded
that He has me. He has not forgotten
me. No amount of time or terror could
pass when He is not with me and when He is not for me. He delivers us, clears our path, and honors
us.
It can be sad when friends are called away, but even more
so, it’s a beautiful testament to His faithfulness. God answers prayers. God cares.
God gives us gifts. God believes
in us to grow
and to chase Him.
And as our time apart passes and distance continues to grow,
I pray that the expanse is met with as many footsteps as there miles between
that point her in the direction of His light and that she ever grow closer to
Him, in passion and pursuit of Him, and is filled like a cistern with His love
so that when we meet again, stories of His grandeur and faithfulness will
overflow, a continuation of encouragement and hope.
We all take
different paths in life, but no matter where we go,
we take a little
of each other everywhere.
