It’s sticky hot. Pants-stuck-to-the-backs-of-your-legs hot. But once a week during the lunch hour me and my crew load up into the car without air conditioning and drive windows down, crazy hair blowing, to share life with a group of friends.
We come kids, diaper bags and sippy cups in tow and sit together in the hottest part of the day because it’s the time we’ve got. It’s the time we’ve carved out. It’s the time to be real.
It’s been long since I last kept that kind of company. That kind of in your face and business and heart company. I should’ve known better what I was missing. Truth is, I do know better. But there are a million excuses when it comes to actually packing up and physically going to someone else’s house for an hour of shared Jesus time.
But I ran out of excuses a couple weeks ago. It was about the same time I was in a panic about my job. Funny how that worked out, eh?
So now at the time of day more convenient for naps and mommy’s alone time, we load up and drive the red car my boys call the race car for a couple hours of slow connecting. We are a mixed bag of women. We are old and young; new moms and experienced. We don’t all know each other well. But we all know Jesus.
When we share and compare notes about Him, we learn more about each other. And more about how He loves to love us. Because we see it reflected in the faces around the room. Tired, strained faces that sometimes cry, sometimes laugh. With worry lines that want to surrender to peace in the man-God who promised not to leave us alone.
For an hour we open up our heavy packs and pick out the stones we’ve been carrying around. We show them and share them and help one another unpack them. We try to leave them there, on the floor of Stephanie’s house. Not just in any old heap. But placed deliberately; an altar of praise between the puzzles, the plastic tigers and pacifiers.
And when I drive home again, boys passed out asleep in the back seat, the warmth I feel is much more than just the lack of air conditioning.
Much, much more.
{ 40 comments… read them below or add one }
I understand! Good reminder to get out and mingle.
You are singing my song, Sister. I need flesh-and-blood Sisters to help me do this life-thing, and when all those girls know Jesus, it is all the better! You described it so vividly…I feel like maybe I was watching your posse from a nearby park bench!
Looking forward to some of that quality in person time with you in October!!
I LOVE that your car doesn’t have AC…I mean, I don’t love it for you, but it says something about you that I love.
Also, thanks for your note to me the other day. Have you read Henri Nouwen’s “With Open Hands”? (I think that’s the title). He talks about holding things…worries, prayers, whatever it is, with open hands, because that is the only way we can receive.
So, that’s what I’m trying to do…
Ha! I’d never thought of it as a good thing before
Maybe it says I should wear extra strength deodorant and have wild, big hair 
Can I come? I miss life!
October in PA?
What a great tool God’s put in your box! I’ve never thought of getting together as a necessary part of my journey…thanks for the perspective!*blessings*
It’s amazing what a difference it makes to just sit down and share life consistently with the same people. Highly recommended!
Beautiful post! I don’t have a group like that right now and I would love one. It’s so important to have a group of people that you can be real with consistently!
Yes, exactly. It had been a long time for me too. But what a difference it makes getting back into that rhythm.
I have been talking with several friends recently about this… its something missing with a lot of women around me. Which is why I am in the planning stages for a gathering next month in my area! I love this post!
So true! I’m finally starting to make better friends here; I really need the fellowship. Your post makes me miss my best friends even more who are all in different states!
Yea, homesick for people is much worse than homesick for places!
wonderful way to celebrate friends & be intentional about investing in their lives … so important & a great lesson for your kids … love it – can I come? Please pick me! Pick me!
Oh yes, definitely! I love making new friends and learning their stories – I’ll be at the Relevant Conference in October, if you’ll be there?
I’m definitely considering Relevant … would love to meet IRL!
Come on Mela!! I told you…it will be fun!! Bring CA with you! (sorry to interject, we’ve been working on Mela!)
I agree.
Touching people includes the physical. I love the cyber connections I have made but sometimes, a good ole hug around the neck does wonders!
Amen to that!
I to miss this part of life. I am trying to work on finding people I can chat to outside of our normal sunday service. Would like more of this fellowship in my life.
Sara xx
Yes, yes, that’s exactly how I felt – so hard to feel connected in the 15 minutes of chatting after church. This deliberate time spent together has made the church moments so much more meaningful.
Ahhh. yes. My soul longs for this community, the fellowship only found through Jesus. I miss it in the summer when our Bible study takes a break. Lovely post. Thank you for sharing.
There’s something kind of magical about the kinship of women, isn’t there? No matter if it’s babies with gas or interpreting Scripture that we’re sharing – it’s powerful.
I need this. Making me weepy this morning. To have women to share the real with, I lost that and it is been a slow road in finding those friends that fit me best. Praying it out in the meantime.
Blessings and hugs.
J.
It’s one of the hardest things from all our moves – saying good bye to the women who have sowed deep into my life. Starting from scratch is always hard, but always so so worthwhile. I’m glad to be back on the old horse again!
good time with other women is so important. i’m glad you make time for this in your life. some of my best memories come from the weekly times with other moms i had when my kids were smaller. such a gift!
It’s funny how hard it can be to carve out that kind of time, isn’t it? But, gosh I’m always blown away by the return on investment!
Way awesome. Spending true time, with true friends rocks.
A great reminder.
ps- Might it not be mutually beneficially for our children??
Indeed! My kids LOVE getting to hang with the gang that’s always there!
this speaks to my soul…and am happy to know that these live-giving sacrifices of time (giving up mommy time was exceedingly difficuot to me) are producing “altars of praise” not just here for me in my town, but throughout the Kingdom…i cannot wait for the day when we, and i mean you and me and all these women, will meet face to face and can together build the ultimate altar of praise in His presence!!
Absolutely!
Beautiful. I need something like this.
It took me ages to figure it out – but dang if it wasn’t so worth it!
So good!!! I need this right now here in SA! Pray that the Lord will help me find it!
There is something very freeing about “DL” (download) time! I just had 24 hours of DL time with my husband. He said, “I always thought you needed to DL every night….but, because we’ve been so busy, and I haven’t been able to DL with you, I was full inside.” He realized that even he needed time to unpack his bag. I like carrying around an empty bag…it’s refreshing.
~kristin
Yes, that kind of DL time is vital – and often hard to come by.
why is it important we learn more about gypsies?