In the years since we have married, it occurs to me that some friendships begin because men have common interests and senses of humor. Some begin because women organize carpools and volunteer together. Some begin because our children’s friendship throw us together. Sometimes these initial friendships lead to entire families spending time together.
If you’re lucky the adults will discover over shared meals, laughter and conversation that they like each other as much as the kids do. And if those initial gatherings go well then the adults may make the next step… friendship worthy of babysitters and coveted adult time. And if you’re extremely fortunate, the spouses like each other as much as those who initiated the friendship.
And if God smiles on you, you wake up one morning to realize that all the time you’ve spent together has woven your families together so closely that now you’re more of a family than friends. Even though you live hours from your own parents, siblings, nieces and nephews you realize that just around the corner are people who will drop anything to help you unpack, call to check in on you at just the right time, and feel comfortable enough to plop down on the couch and enjoy a spontaneous evening together. Their kids are as beautiful and precious as your kids. And they love your kids as if they were their own.
We have those friends. While some question our sanity and judgment for selling our house and leaving jobs; as I see it, the greater sacrifice and foolishness is leaving behind such friends that few are fortunate to find.
