A sign in my house reads, “It takes a long time to grow old friends.” My husband and I qualify as old friends. But, because we’ve moved around, we’ve missed the constant association with other people we love. We re-connect with lots of people once a year with Christmas cards and newsletters, but it isn’t the same. Staying in tune with people we rarely see is difficult.
Staying Connected
What about God? How do we stay connected with him?
As a young mom, I overheard a retired woman chatting about the hour a day she spent, eyes closed listening to praise music, then reading the Bible, and talking to God. I envied her and longed for the day when that would be possible for me. A luxury like that didn’t exist in my life with four small children and a couple of dogs.
Stolen Moments
Back then, I kept a devotional guide in the bathroom and snatched a few precious seconds alone with God when I could get away from the clamor of little voices. A window in the kitchen overlooking a patch of green was another sacred corner. Those stolen moments and odd sacred spaces helped me build a relationship with Jesus.
Distant friends don’t need oceans of time. A brief note, a card, a call or text all say, “You are in my heart and our relationship is important to me.” God understands our busy-ness. If snatched moments to reflect on God’s goodness are all we’ve got, let’s grab them and rejoice.
Habits
While I treasure my almost daily Bible reading and conversations with God now, snatched moments on the run when my children were young established a habit of turning to God.
It takes time to grow old friends. Jesus called us friends. He wants us as constant companions, the dearest of old friends.
Please share the ways you connect with God in a comment. You may help someone else. Thank you!
