We Could Be Friends
This is my dear friend Lena. I first encountered Lena in a Walmart in 2011. She walked past me and my daughters as we were debating desk accessories while preparing for my middle daughter to head off to college. She walked past us and laughed. I stopped her and said, “Hey, Lady, I know you’re laughing at us.” I thought she would deny it but, she said, “Yes. Because I just sent my son off to college and he didn’t even want new clothes and here you are trying to make your daughter’s desk look nice. The difference between boys and girls!” She walked away and I thought “She could be my friend.”
Fast forward, the following Sunday, I see her in the bookstore at my church. I walk over to her and tell her, “You’re the lady from Walmart.” And she responded, “So are you!” While I lived 40 minutes from my church and initially, tried to discourage our friendship, we’d eventually realized that our houses were only 15 minutes apart.
God is Always Up to Something
Lena could not have been more different than me. She grew up living all over the world. She had an ease with trusting the good in people that was as foreign to me as the places she’d lived. She’d do things like give rides to strangers, become a lifeline for single mothers and ask people too many questions to find their pain points. I was fascinated by how easy it was for her to reach out, without regard to her own safety or, without feeling as if she was intruding.
Sometimes, I’d tell her God sent me in her life to add a little caution and keep her from going out there, too far. I grew up in Chicago and you learn, quickly, to navigate in ways that keep you from being vulnerable to sketchy people. I learned from Lena that, whoever God guides you to, He’ll also protect you from, if necessary.
Lena and I were friends for 6 months before I learned that she was a doctor. How could that be? Most people would have been so proud of that accomplishment, that it would have been the first thing they would tell you about themselves. Lena had nothing to prove. Her identity was in Christ, and Christ, alone. I knew, in that moment, that she would be my friend, for life.
When we were in a group, we had that “thing” where we could have entire conversations with our eyes. Then, in 2017, because of a career opportunity, we were planning to move out of state. Those were difficult times because, you know…all the things. But, for some reason, the move didn’t come to fruition. Now, I know it was God.
That year, Lena received a medical diagnosis that changed everything.
Limited Time
That year, Lena received a medical diagnosis that changed everything. Still, God gave us almost 2 more years, together. And, while we both knew that God has the power to heal, at some point in the process, she decided she wanted to just “go home.” I knew when it happened, when she made the decision and, as hard as I tried, I just couldn’t fight it. Lena was promoted to Heaven in January 2018. There have been very few days in my life since, that I don’t think about my friend. Lena’s birthday would have been April 17th.
We don’t know how much time we have with the people around us. But, for those whose lives give life to us, let’s cherish them. Let’s realize, now, in the moment, just how much they mean to us. And let’s make sure that we’re using our lives … to give life to others.
Happy Birthday, Lena and . . . Keep the Faith, LifeSpeakers.
