Lately I have been thinking about friendships. Don’t we all long for a good friend? Through the years, my friendships have been feast or famine. There have been times when I was satisfied and content with my circle of friends. There were times when I took a new job in order to find friends. And there were times – lots of times – when I felt like I had no friends.  In those times, I needed a friend.

The past few years have been good for me friendship-wise. I have a small circle of close friends, and then a wider circle of women that I have mentored or have ministered to who have become friends. Spending time together does that! So I have felt full, and blessed, and thankful for my friendships.

I was not looking for a new friend. I didn’t think I needed a new friend. I definitely did not have time for a new friend!

But God thought differently.

About two years ago, a spunky, energetic lady named Pat Bradford began attending our church. I had heard good things about her and I felt a tug by God to get to know her. After about a month of praying, I invited her to my annual garden brunch. Then last summer, we had lunch together at her office. When we were both evacuated in the mountains during Hurricane Florence, I made the drive to visit her.

Slowly, and surely, we have gotten to know each other, learned to trust each other, and have become very comfortable in each other’s presence.

The best thing is this: She sits next to me in church.  She shares her chocolate.  And she brings a warm wool wrap, and if I am cold, she will share it with me.

Isn’t that what friendship is all about?

Another thing I love about Pat is that she likes to talk on the phone and I do, too. While I am putting on my makeup or driving to another city, we talk about anything and nothing.  And when I am leading the service at church, she is willing to serve, and right before I preach, she prays for me.

Recently, as I was thinking about our friendship, this thought dawned on me: “I didn’t know that I needed a friend.”

You see, my close circle of friends has changed in the last few years. One friend is burning the candle at both ends working in Wilmington and caring for her mother, who lives three hours away. One friend is busy tending to the needs of her very large family. Other friends are no longer at my church and I don’t see them as often.

Even though I am still friends with these ladies, the friendships are different now. We don’t have the same amount of time together or proximity.

We aren’t sitting together under the same warm wool wrap.

God knew that I needed something when I wasn’t even aware.  I had a void in my life and I didn’t even know it. I needed a new friend.  And God provided.

I needed a friend to share a ride to church events. I needed a friend to talk with on the phone. I needed a friend to cover up my cold feet during church.

And I got that in Pat.

I don’t know where you are in your friendships today. You may have a large circle of friends. Or you may be lonely and longing for companionship. The point is this: God knows your needs. And He knows the best way to fill them.

He knows what you have need of even when you are unaware of your need, like I was.

Go ahead and start thanking Him in advance for how He will, in His timing, send you exactly the friend that you need. And for your sake, I hope they will share their chocolate and warm you up if you get cold.

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