Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Make New Friends

Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.
See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the desert
and streams in the wasteland.
Isaiah 43:18&19


This verse is one of those verses that keeps surfacing throughout the major experiences of my life. I recall holding on to it especially when my sweet husband came into my life after having years of singleness. I grasped it when my son was born and I transitioned from working full time to being a stay at home mother - and a new bride.(Little one was born exactly nine months after we were married.) And now, I cling to it as I am in new physical location - away from all that I know and love dearly. I love the encouragement my heart finds every time I read "forget the former things" and "I am doing a new thing!"

When I dropped Donna Rene off at the airport - I cried deep tears. The kind of tears that roll off your cheeks and fall down with a splatter - because they are coming from such a deep place within your heart and there is no chance in stopping them. In the hours that followed her departure, I have never ever felt so lonely. It's as if she poured into my very thirsty heart love and friendship - which I had no idea was so dry. What was I going to do now? I didn't have a friend here to call, and I just wanted a friend to be with.

As I sat in my lonely funk Tuesday morning, my phone rang. It was a local number - and I picked it up. On the other line was the director of a local MOPS program. I had contacted her months ago, and we have played phone tag since. Yesterday was the first time we talked - and it was the day I needed it most. She informed me that the next meeting was today - and that I should show up at 9:00. Then, an hour later, I received another phone call - another local number - it was the small group leader of the group I was going to be in. While talking to both of these ladies I heard "welcome friend!" and "I can't wait to meet you!" When I arrived this morning, I was greeted with hugs and introductions. Again, those deep tears came - and resurfaced throughout the morning.

I sat there listening to other moms talk about how hard it is to get everything done during nap, and how it's been hard to leave family and friends behind in another state, and how one lady keeps telling her husband that she needs to get GPS because she keeps getting lost! Oh, I am not alone! There are only three more meetings this spring, but I will go to those last three meetings and hopefully find some ladies to connect with during the summer.


And again, I hear the Lord say, "See, I am doing a new thing - Now it springs up do you not perceive it?"

I am reminded of the little song that we used to sing in Brownies:
Make new friends
Keep the old
Some are Silver and the other gold...

I am looking forward to the Silver and Gold I will find in this new place.


5 comments:

*carrie* said...

Rebecca,

Loved this post. Thank you for sharing your heart with us. I am so happy you got hooked up with MOPS, and right when you needed it most. I hope it will bless you in many ways!

Mom2Drew said...

Rebecca...call me! I can't find your new number and erased it off my email on accident (silly me) Anyway, I would love to talk to you. Your post is so heart felt and honest. I've been praying you make new friends and it's so great to know there are those out there who listen to God...how do we know He did not prompt them to call you right when they did? I love and miss you TONS!

Susan said...

Rebecca,
I am so glad that the Lord provides! Your post really touched me because I have struggled so in the beginning when I first moved just to have a good friend. And he did provide:)

allie said...

Rebecca- you made tears come to my eyes as I read this post. I am so proud of you and your courage to meet the needs of your heart. I pray that the Lord will continue to bring in special friend from Tx.
I love you,

Monica Wilkinson said...

What a sweet look into your heart - I prayed for you yesterday in developing friendships.