Friday, August 22, 2008

Friendship Bread

Have you ever received a bag of goo that you need to nurture until it becomes bread? I have, and 4 of you will in the very near future! My friend dropped in for something that I cannot remember and dropped off my little batch of Amish Friendship Bread. She did alot of the work. In fact, we were already on day six when she gave it to me. She did a good bit of the work for me and even included the pudding. I have to be honest, I knew I wanted it, and I knew it would be yummy...but it had to sit on my counter! I'm trying really hard to keep my counters/house clean...so it was just something like, "Oh, yeah, the bread, that stays there." Well, today was the day to bake it. So, after dinner Julia, Ella and I headed into the kitchen to get this bread off of the counter and into the oven (and then into our bellies). While were were getting it together I started thinking about friendship in general and how it also needs to be nurtured. I wanted to hug some of my best friends...this is the best I can do.

You see, each day I had directions for what I was supposed to do with this bread. Squeeze it, add some stuff to it (Kelli did that for me) leave it on the counter, let the air out. Sort of take care of this mush so that I could enjoy the bread. There would be a reward.

I have some sweet, sweet friends. I think of my "teacher" friends all the time. I wish they could see me now. I'm not as scattered and I am a little more structured...they would be proud. I think about my college friends who watched me lay down some serious loves of my life. They watched me struggle with all His energy as I worked out my salvation with fear and trembling (and continue to work it out). I have High School friends who were my company for some pretty crazy times, that make for fun stories now, "GIRLS, IT'S TIME!!!" I have some friends that were patient with me as I warmed up to being a new wife and making new friends. I have some friends that were with me as I was a new mom in a new place. They assured me that everything would turn out alright and they confirmed that my son is, indeed, a genius. I've wept with my friends as they shared their deepest regrets, I've celebrated while they have overcome some intense obstacles and fears. I've watched marriages be reborn, and I've seen them disintegrate. I've welcomed new babies, mourned babies we never kissed, and hoped with some friends that they would be called, one day, "Mom." I have some incredible friends. I wish I could call them all by name. I wish that when my bread comes out of the oven I could cut up a piece for everyone of you and we could laugh and cry...we'd wear pajama bottoms and go back for seconds since we were wearing elastic!

I want to work at my friendships. I want to squeeze them, and add to them, and share them with others. I want to enjoy the reward of a friendship that is not only maintained, but is enjoyed and cultivated. I started to list some of my friends and what we would talk about, then I stopped. There is no way I could acknowledge all of the fabulous women who have contributed to me.

I wish you could smell my house. It's warm, and sweet...just like friendship. I'm not sure how to end this...I guess it would be appropriate to not end it, like so many of my friendships...it's just not over...

"A friend loves at all time." Proverbs 17:17

6 comments:

Heather said...

One of my favorite posts! I am one who cherishes my friendships as they are a true part of me and an important part of my life. Thanks for being my friend... And, as I read that I realized how I was there for many of the life roads you talked about. Over 20 years now.. crazy huh!

Ali said...

Heather,
Has it really been 20 years??? What a gift, and to see Laura Beth and Ella wander around in Tiff's yard...that was surreal. No more baby dolls on the playground...they are in our very own homes. I always love our time together...there is something sacred about old friends, they just know you. Thanks, Heather!

Kim said...

Ali,
What a wonderful post. I am truly glad I have gotten to know you a little better over the last couple of years or so. I am glad to call you MY friend. Love ya,
Kim.

Sara said...

It's reading these kinds of writings that make me become more and more dissatisfied with the greeting card selection at Hallmark. Beautifully expressed.

jill.mayer said...

It is so easy to see why you have so many friends! We "made friends" in a few short hours next to each other in Atlanta one late June afternoon. I told my friend next to me, Christina, "oh, she would soooooo be my friend if I lived in Georgia!" I still say that every time I read your blog!

You would be proud to know that my Simon can work through the first set of Q and A on the Big Truths for Little Kids book. We used it this week to help him understand that he didn't glorify God when he disobeyed his teacher. I think that it really hit home with him when I used that for the first time in his training. (I was so proud of myself too!) Your friendship extended to me that one day has left a lasting impact on a little 5 year old boy's journey as he finds Christ. What better friend can you have than that?

Will write soon! Love,

Jill

Ali said...

Jill,
I am absolutely humbled and feel the same way when I visit you!!! Hooray for your Simon...what a gift that we can give our children...help them to understand how they can and cannot glorify God...it will make all the difference. Really, your words are so kind...