Last Sunday afternoon I got a call from a dear friend I haven’t talked to for 4 to 5 months. In our single days, we used to talk regularly despite being in different time zones, and if either she or I were in a middle of a crisis (which happens a lot when you’re single), we would talk everyday. But after we both got married, those phone calls were replaced by an occasional text here and there. As we both got busier with family, jobs, the church life, months would go by without any communication and we gradually just began to lose touch.
That’s why I was so delighted when I saw her name appear on the caller ID of my cell phone that afternoon. The first thing she said after I picked up was, “Hi, I have a dilemma and I didn’t know who else to call.” I braced myself for bad news and handed the baby off to Larry so that I could give her my full attention. She then launched into a detailed explanation of her dilemma – she needed help deciding on a couch for their living room. Phew! At least it wasn’t bad news. I listened as she described the different couches they were considering, the decor of their living room and eventually I had to go to the computer and look on the Ikea website so I could see what she was talking about. As I listened and gave my opinions, it felt like the good old days again. Our conversation eventually turned to more serious topics – how we were both doing, family, faith, our walk with the Lord. We laughed and prayed and encouraged one another. In the end, I don’t think we ever resolved her couch dilemma, but that’s the wonderful thing about having girlfriends. We don’t call expecting an answer or solution; we call because we know there will be someone on the other end who will listen and give their full attention, no matter how trivial the problem (not that I’m saying her couch dilemma is trivial). Trivial or not, I’m glad that she couldn’t choose a couch because it reconnected us. Sometimes we need to take a break from changing diapers and wiping noses and make the time to gab on the phone with a friend. At least, that’s what I needed that Sunday afternoon.
Helen
We’ve had runny noses ever since school started.
