We need look no further than our computer and phone screens for
proof of this chapter’s title! Facebook, Twitter, Instagram … all full of,
“Look where we went!” and, “Guess what my child just did?” and, “You have to
try these amazing cupcakes!”
Yep. Delight multiplies when we experience it in
community—even after the fact.
God knew it would be this way.
Friday night I met girlfriends at a nearby restaurant. It
had been an eventful week and there was plenty to talk about over salads,
chicken and dessert. Afterward, the poor guy trying to help us at the Starbucks
drive-thru probably thought we were crazy as we laughed our way through our
skinny/fat/whip/no whip/sprinkles order for four peppermint mochas (perhaps not
the brightest idea we’d had all night, as in our giggling we forgot to make
them decaf, and it was after 9pm by the time we got there!) Trooping into a row
at our downtown prayer and worship center, we turned worries over the upcoming
election into prayer and thanksgiving for God’s sovereignty in it. And we
wrapped up our night several hours later around a fire pit in one of the girls’
backyards, having swapped tales both joy-filled and perplexing, offering advice
and more prayer, laughter that was probably too loud in the neighbor’s book,
creating memories none of us will forget. Burdens had been shared and thereby
made lighter. And we had made our joy full by sharing the week’s happy stories,
too.
“Oil and perfume make the heart glad; so a man’s counsel is
sweet to his friend.” Prov. 27:9
“Two are better than one because they have a good return for
their labor. For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion.
But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up.
Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm
alone? And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of
three strands is not quickly torn apart.” Ecc. 4:9-12
I love Sally’s stories about her dear friend, Gwen, told
here in chapter seven of Dancing! What a wonder it is when God grants us the
amazing gift of a friend. The four of us had such a wonderful time together
because we shared many of the same standards, values, and goals for our lives—plus
a true love for one another. As Sally says here:
“There is a palpable energy and life to relationships forged
on ideals, faith, and hope. Friendship forged in the work of God’s kingdom is
the best kind. The grandness of the calling supersedes the small, selfish
issues that abound in relationships and give us a grace to accept each other as
we are.”
We search for joy in so many places—and it’s so elusive in a
darkened world! Yet Jesus has pointed the way to it, and it’s a surprising
direction—one that leads not to lists of rules and regulations, but to love.
“Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you;
abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just
as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I
have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made
full. This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved
you. Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.”
John 15:9-13
Sally says, “He said that we are to obey Him and that if we
do, we will abide in His love; live there, dwell there,
flourish there in His love. And then He went on to define the commandment that
will help us to abide in His love and experience full joy: “This is My
commandment, that you love one another.” That’s it? Not that we have to be
perfect or holy or righteous or without sin, but that we love one another? That
is where our joy is made full? Absolutely! This is why Jesus commanded us to
cultivate and be committed to ‘life-laying-down,’ serving, loyal love.”
We all had plenty of other things we could have been doing
on Friday night. We’re moms, after all! But taking that time out for one
another led to support and prayer and multiplied joy. And pleased our Father.
About Misty Krasawski