Be Open When It Comes to Making New Friends

by Beth Hall

While living in Connecticut, I was befriended by an older woman. This friend came in a small, frail, 90-year-old package, all tied up with a bow of Parkinson's. Have you ever met someone, and you just click? She immediately took a liking to me, and the feeling was mutual. As I watched this dear woman, I knew I aspired to be like her as I aged. She aged with grace and beauty. She still styled her hair and applied her lipstick. She loved her husband and her children. But the thing I aspired to the most was to be a woman of prayer as she was.

Tonya not only took a liking to me, but to our whole family. Without us knowing, she began to pray for the four of us every day. She bathed us in prayer. There were days she couldn't get out of bed, so she prayed. Every Sunday we would look for one another at church. A quick smile and hug were always accompanied by a little teasing because we were five minutes late . . . again. On Wednesday mornings we attended the same Bible study. A bond of friendship was formed. What did we have in common? Christ.

When Kevin lost his job, Tonya prayed even harder. One Sunday morning (and yes, we were late for church) Tonya told Kevin that she couldn't sleep the night before, so she prayed. While she was praying, she received a word from the Lord. She told Kevin that he would get a job and the gifts he had were what his new boss needed.

We clung to those words and Kevin did get a job. After working for about two weeks, his big corporate boss said to him, "Kevin, we hired you because you have something your boss needs." Thank you God for confirmation that Kevin was in the right place, exactly where you wanted him to be.

Unfortunately, this dear friend passed away before we were able to tell her that her prophetic word was fulfilled. I believe she is smiling down from heaven, lipstick applied and hair neatly styled, nodding her head in satisfaction as she sees God's plan being fulfilled.

As you settle into your new home and community be on the lookout for friendships that are outside the realm of your normal, comfortable friendships. Forming friendships takes time and work. You don't have a history together. It forces you to be vulnerable. It is easy in our modern, technology-ridden world, to stay comfortable being plugged in.

While I am thankful that technology has made it easy to maintain friendships across the miles, it has made it very easy to delay forming new friendships. Forming new friendships is hard work, but well worth the time and effort it takes. Be willing to open yourself up to a new friend. Be vulnerable and start forming a history together. Look for friends who might not fit your typical friend mold. You never know who will become one of your dearest friends. As I learned with Tonya, friends come in all shapes, sizes, and ages.