Virg

August 8, 2014 I have this friend named Virginia. I've known her for most of my life. We went to high school together, where basically we were just acquaintances. However, once we went to college, our friendship was forged, and I began the adventure of a lifetime! The next two years were filled with so many new and exciting experiences. Virg faced life head on, embracing each day, and had an exuberance for it that was quite catchy. I idolized her and loved her fiercely. She was the part of me I didn't know was missing--nor existed--and the friendship we shared was one I have always treasured and held dear to my heart. One of the things that made our friendship work so well was our "Let's be honest" talks. We started them in our Freshmen year and had them late at night, in the dark where it was safe to be real with our emotions. We told each other things that no one else knew. Our fears were shared also. But the major thing? Well, we didn't call them "Let's be honest" for nothing. Honesty. Confession. Admission. Denial was not an option. The good, the bad, and the ugly were thrown out in our little dorm room as we evaluated who we were, who we weren't, and who we'd like to be. The things we did to drive each other crazy. The things we needed more of from one another. If one was being "inappropriate" during certain situations, this was addressed. If one was neglecting the other, this too was brought up. Some of the talks were hurtful. Toes and feet and even ankles were stepped upon as we ventured into this relationship head on. If she didn't like something I was doing and thought it harmful to me and my reputation, she had no qualms about telling me so. If I thought she was investing too much of herself for this guy (which really meant that she was spending more time with him than me and my jealousy was taking over) I let her know. In the darkness of that old Edna Moore room, nothing and everything was sacred. When morning came, the brightness of the sun shining was nothing to the happiness in my heart as I felt cleansed from our late night chats. James 5:16 states "Therefore confess your sins to each other..." Virg and I were quite adept at this but sometimes the talks got too scary as we became more honest with ourselves and with each other. We were eighteen years old, and the world was our oyster. While we enjoyed the talks for the most part, their honesty was often painful. How I wish we could have had more of Jesus in us back then so that the rest of the verse "...and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective" could have been implemented. Had we both been more settled in our salvation experience we could have really set the world on fire! That's not to say we didn't talk about Christ or the need for Him in our lives. We did. It just wasn't...it wasn't our time then. In our search for ourselves, we didn't realize the way we do now that had He been invited to our midnight confessions that we could have spared ourselves a lot of grief! That He was the missing third part of our little group. In conclusion, those late night "Let's be honest" confessions were healing times for me. Never before had I had someone love me enough to share my good and bad emotions and not run away screaming. Never before had I had someone care enough about me to call me out when I needed reprimanded but not with violence. Never before had I a friend like Virginia to teach me the ways of Christ without realizing what she was doing so at the time. She was loving me without condemnation, with gentleness and so much patience, and she was setting the bar that no woman has since even come close to for a friendship that has stood the test of time. Although time, distance, and decades have separated us, we still remain friends to this day and as we both have a clearer view of Christ and the way He took such great care of us during those daring days of college, my hope is that the next time we have one of those chats that the prayers we pray for one another will indeed be more powerful and more effective than ever before. Dear Lord, Thank You for Virginia. I had no idea that the girl who I laughed with as a kid in high school would have such a profound effect on me throughout my life. I ask that You bless her, bless her marriage, her family, her kids, and her precious granddaughter. Continue using her to be a breath of fresh air to those she is surrounded by. Keep her healthy and safe --and sane!! But if You don't, will You at least let her room be next to mine at the home our kids threaten us with? Mostly though, Lord, I want to thank You for Your Word that is constantly being proven and standing its own test of time. I have seen the power of friendship and when it is combined with prayer--with You--I have seen its power. May every woman have a Virginia in her life and a Jesus in her heart is my prayer today. Amen.