I have a standing date with my friend Melanie to walk together at 6AM one day a week. Obviously, this is a good friend. We do this because we love each other and want to spend time together, but mostly because she is giving selflessly to be a friend to me.
I work from home. I take my boys to school every morning at 8:00 then I pick them up at 3:30. I try to work again between 4-5 while they rest up. Then the evenings belong to my family, at least until the kids are in bed. I’m giving my heart and busting my rear while they’re at school, to give the amazing community that is HeartStories, the sustainability it deserves.
So when a friend wants to get together during the day, it’s hard. I’m so torn on how to love my friends well and do the work I’m called to do. It makes it especially hard when it looks like I have a free schedule to arrange as I please.
My friend Melanie gets this. She knows me well enough to know that I don’t love her less at 6AM than I would at 2PM. In fact, it makes me like her even that much more because I know she’s not a morning person and waking early is a big sacrifice for her.
You know where this is going.
Yesterday, she showed up at my house at 5:58AM. I know this because I have the first text message- bright and shiny- I’m here!
And the second one.
And the final one, I treated myself to Starbucks and went home. 😉
My alarm went off at 6:30 and as I drug my body out of bed, I noticed I had some messages from Melanie.
OH. MY. GOODNESS. I did not just do this!
I couldn’t text fast enough. I’m sorry. I’m SO sorry!
I had gone to bed the night before, set my alarm and completely forgotten about our walk. Melanie, of course, was incredibly gracious and forgiving. I felt like there was nothing I could do to make it better. She already had Starbucks, but my heart just hurt. I told another friend about it in morning car line. She reminded me that face to face time always makes things better.
So I went straight over to Mel’s house (in PJ’s, dorky white socks and slippers) to tell her I was sorry and give her a hug. Her eyes were warm with true compassion and her smile sincere. She was picture of grace and love. Our friendship was fine and my heart was a little lighter.
I shared this story with you today so you might think about your friends.
Do you have a friend who needs you to show up for her, even if you get stood up sometimes?
A friend who needs to see compassion and love in your eyes?
Or maybe you need to show up in your dorky socks and slippers to say you’re sorry.
Make this the day you do.
It’s a really good feeling to oversleep and be loved anyway.
Let’s do more loving anyway today!
Crystal
