Hi Sweet Friends!

Teresa Pope sent out a challenging and amazingly written email last week to LifeLine leaders and I wanted to share a portion of it with all of you. Let's challenge ourselves to seek out a deeper level of friendship with each other! I love you all!

amy



OK. We all have friends. We all have different levels of
friendships. You know how there are some friends you have that maybe
you see them at Harris Teeter and you play catch-up there, in the
produce section. You may talk for 5 minutes or so. Then you don't
talk again until you see them at Target the next month. I have lots
of friends that fit that bill. Some of you are on this level.

But then, you have friends that you actually do things with- maybe you
go out to dinner with them or have them over for burgers on the
grill. Your kids may play with their kids or you might even keep
their kids on occasion. Another step up on the friendship ladder. We
have right many of those friends also. Again, some of them are you guys.

But then there are the friends that you call when you need to vent or
when tragedy strikes. When you need a shoulder to cry on. They know
your likes and dislikes, your pet peeves, your phobias. They have
been in your refrigerator and seen the green stuff in the tupperware
bowl. They may have even keep the spare key to your home. They get
your mail when you are out of town. They call you while they are at
Harris Teeter to see if you need anything. They bring you chicken
soup when you are sick and they come through the door to bring it to
you-even though it means they might get sick also. They look you in
the eye and say "I love you but you are wrong about that. I am going
to pray about it" - and then they do. They go with you to Out patient
surgery. They love you unconditionally. That's the top rung of the
ladder. The one that most people won't dare stand on for fear of
falling and getting hurt. I have precious few of those friends- yep,
one or two of you are these folks.

So what am I saying here? Look at your groups and your relationship
with those folks. Figure out which rung of the ladder you stand on
with those people. Decide just how you can develop closer friendships
with your people. It may mean actually listening to what they say and
remembering it. It may mean picking up the phone and saying "how did
your appointment or interview go?" or "is you mother feeling better"
or "what time does little Johnny play Saturday? I think we would like
to see him play this week". It may mean making double spaghetti and
taking to the Smith's who have been sick this week or
any number of things. Yes, we know you are busy but promising your
self to take 5 minutes after supper to call one or two of your folks
"just to see how your week is going" but it could make all the
difference in their world. In your world. In my world.

Let's all commit to developing the relationships with our group
members. I will be calling you. Oh, and you might want to check on
the green stuff in your frig!