watering fewer gardens

_Friendship like Esther. 

Embrace the true friendships God has placed in your life. 

As I have gotten older I have learned to see the value that the quality of a friendship is so much more valuable than the quantity of friendships that I have. And while this is true- I think that quantity time is still important over quality time. I say this because a relationship can only grow if there are consistent efforts to help water it. I just water fewer gardens now...and that is ok. 

I suppose it seems strange to have a website and blog to stress the importance of conversations and face to face time but I am doing this with the prayer that some of my reflections can be helpful to others. 

What we truly need is raw friendships. Ones that can be a hot mess sometimes. Ones that need apologies sometimes. Ones that bring so much laughter and joy to your soul that you smile. Ones that will crawl in be with you when you have postpartum depression and don't have any words to say. Just like Job's friends [when they first showed up...not later!] "Then they sat on the ground with him for 7 days and 7 nights. No one said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was". Job 2:13. I didn't realize how valuable friends are until they truly see you at your lowest point....and they still keep coming back. They don't give up on us. They help us to the other side. 

I am grateful for each friendship that nourishes me. But I can't forget that I need to be intentional about investing in the friendships that I value. Friendships get a little more distant when spouses, children and aging parents come into play. And that is also OK. But I am going to focus on watering, even a little at a time to help them grow. 

Where's your watering can friends? What friendship do you need to be intentional with today?

​_Friendship like Esther.