He who hath many friends hath none

October 1, 2012

Well, Good Morning, Readers!  After two days of soaking rain, my garden is looking so perky & pretty.  Funny how much better plants do when watered from above!!  The little casa is ablaze with the colors of Autumn and I am feelin' gooooood!! 

Saturday, brought the heaviest rains.  Michael and I had gone to Walmart and had gotten some Fall plants that were on sale.  When I got home, I decided to plant them in the planters on the front step.  I felt like a little kid tromping in the rain and playing in the mud!!  Michael kept sticking his head out the front door, "You're nuts ... come in out of the rain!!"  When I finished, I looked at the front step as a child would look at an important undertaking ... "Ah yes, I did it!"  I was soaked from my head to my toes but grinning from ear to ear.

I was perusing through some quotes and came across one that hit me ... "He who hath many friends hath none."  (Anonymous)  I was thinking about how difficult I find it to have many close friends.  I have a lot of acquaintances but only a few close friends.  I take friendship very seriously, and cultivate those relationships where I can be me -- my friend can be whomever they are -- and, we can be better people together. 

First of all, I am a Christian and God is most important in my life.  I spend time with Him by reading the Bible and praying.  Jesus is my best friend ... I tell him everything and take shelter beneath his wings.  When, I feel most alone, I know that he is with me and that gives me comfort.  In my world of ups and downs, he has whispered ... "Am I not enough?"  I came into the world alone and will leave alone ... yet, I know that He is in Heaven ... waiting with arms open wide!

 

^"...If God is for us, who can be against us?~~Romans 8:31

Secondly, anyone who is in a marriage relationship knows that it takes time and energy to cultivate that special union.  Michael and I have made it a point to connect at least once a day on what is going on in our lives and how we are feeling, emotionally, physically, and spiritually.

Thirdly, anyone who has a family knows that keeping in touch is important and that takes time and effort.  I text family members letting them know I love them.  We keep in touch by email, phone, text sometimes several times a day.  We are family - for better or worse and we stand together working out our differences and rejoicing in love for one another.  I am blessed to have the family I do...

Fourthly, friends...  I am fortunate to have a nice neighbor who lives across the street from me.  I am allergic to cats (she has 4) so she comes over at least once a day.  We plan day trips and car pool when we need to do errands.  My next door neighbors (a young couple with two little girls) are so sweet.  They saw me out in the rain Saturday night and Sam brought over some sandwiches and Tres Leches Cake.  If I needed something I know I could count on them -- if they need something, they know they can count on me.  It is important to me to check in on Facebook to see what my friends are doing and thinking.  It's been a great way to "keep in touch."

So ... why did the quote, He who hath many friends hath none" strike me?  I meditated on that this morning.  There are only so many hours in a day to be spent.  If I am spread too thin, everyone suffers -- mostly me!  No one really knows me because I haven't taken the time to share my innermost thoughts and listen to theirs.  I detest superficialness and welcome deepness.  If my family is struggling, I am not there to judge -- I AM there to listen, share my wisdom, and support them.  I am NOT their judge and jury.  I have no secrets from my closest friends and my family.  I breathe easy when I go to bed at night knowing that my hours were spent wisely!

Every now and then, I stop and take stock in what's important and what I want to accomplish.  I write down a plan and how I am going to get there.  If I don't plan, I wander aimlessly moving from this task to that ... this person to that person ... and, never seem to accomplish anything.  God - Michael and family - Friends - Goals ... all important and need my time.  You might wonder where "I" fit in all this order.  Well, I start and end my day with God which gives me a healthy spiritual outlook.  I do something special for Michael every day and we take at least a half hour to connect giving me peace and direction in my marriage.  I take time to connect with family and friends which gives me joy.  Then, there are the things that I do to bring me a sense of accomplishment -- writing my blog, writing children's stories, decorating my home to make it homey and welcoming, tending my garden which gives me good exercise, reading, cooking, household duties.  My life is full to the brim!!

God is so awesome.  He uses the trials and joys in our life to refine and transform.  I have had the opportunity over the past few months to develop a very strained relationship into one of budding love.  If you'd have told me in 2011 that she and I would address our issues and come to a common bond in Jesus Christ, I would have told you that you were crazy.  You know what?  This didn't happen without both of us devoting the time to becoming transparent.  Our common bond has become our faith.  We share devotionals and questions of believers.  She's stretched me, making me study more.  She has humbled me realizing that there were things I missed in scripture.  I have a friend that I WANT to know more.  It hasn't been easy and I've had to set aside my own hurts and judgements knowing that (yep) I might get hurt again.  Somehow, someway, I am willing to take that risk.

Are you guilty of having so many acquaintances, none of which know the real you?  Are you running from yourself afraid that if a friend knew the real you, you would be discarded?  Are you so tired at the end of the day and feel that you accomplished nothing?  Maybe it's time to take a Miss Dottie breather and regroup.  My daughter is doing just that and I admire her willingness to STOP and smell those proverbial roses for thirty days.  Jane, I am so proud of you, I could just burst!!

Enjoy your day, Readers!!  It sure is mighty pretty here.  Think I will take a trip out to the gardens and see what new blooms have opened.  Always remember you are loved and prayed for ... YA YOU!!

Miss Dottie

PS  "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another."~~Proverbs 27:17