A Good Friend

A good friend....

sets her watch alarm to ring every afternoon when she knows that you are at your most frazzled and stops to pray for you.

finds winter boots for your daughter. In her size. In her favorite color. Out of state. And calls to tell you about it.

comes over to take your kids to her house when you've discovered they've "decorated" the upstairs bathroom with soft scrub and permanent markers.

stops when she sees you weeding the flower bed, seven months pregnant, and insists that you sit down and let her finish the job for you.

dog sits for you ad nauseum!

flies across the country when you bring your baby home and takes a week off work without pay, just to help you keep from losing your mind.

shows up in the middle of the night to watch the house and kids while you take your husband to the ER to get stitches.

brings you homemade soup and bread when you have the flu and no one else knows you are sick.

drops off a caffeine free diet coke on your doorstep just because she was thinking of you and knew you wouldn't dream of taking four kids under the age of seven to the store for such a small thing.

remembers your birthday, even when everyone else forgets because you just had a baby and all they can think about is how cute that baby is.

listens to you without judging or pointing out your faults. And then she prays. For you. For the situation. For everything.

encourages you at all times and always has something godly to say to you.

remembers that every baby should be celebrated, even if you've had twenty babies before this one.

sends a thank-you card to your daughter just for being such a great daughter to you.

sends you "fun money" so you can treat yourself to that new haircut or pair of shoes you couldn't justify putting in the family budget this month.

eats ice cream with you without making comments like, "Oh, we really shouldn't" but instead says, "Let's celebrate being able to hang out together!"

loves you for who you were, who you are and who God wants you to be.

Thanks, God, for so many, many good friends. Thank You for using them to teach me what it means to be a friend and how to recognize Your friendship. In Jesus' Name, Amen.