Staying Close

Precious Ones ~

Do you know this song?

"Make new friends,

but keep the old ~

One is silver and the other gold!"

It's a short tune I learned at summer camp so

many decades ago, and a beautiful truth that

I can testify to in my life.

(Jess and Diane circa 1979!)

I just got off the "phone" with my college roommate

who is living in ...China!

Via Skype, a computer program that enables one

to video conference, we are now keeping in touch

several times a week. YEAH!

~~~

How wonderful to hear about her adventures as

she acclimates to this new culture!

How precious to share our hearts and feel

so "close" because of the video camera.

Even chatting with a cup of tea

first thing in the morning in my bathrobe!

What a blessing not to worry about our appearance;

(it's early for me and late for her)

because our time zones are 12 hours apart.

~~~

Through this modern technology

we can offer encouragement and empathy

that blesses our hearts and enriches our lives.

~~~

A funny thing happened this morning, though...

Diane accidentally hit the "mute" button

on her keyboard so I couldn't hear her.

She was talking away about a

bicycle trip to a silk factory and

I was missing the story!

~~~

So I held up a hand scribbled sign that said:

"I can't hear you!"

For a few moments we made hysterical hand motions

and then, laughing, we disconnected.

Almost immediately she discovered the problem

and redialed my number to finish our call!

~~~

How I thank GOD for this joyful gift of

communicating across the globe!

~~~

King Solomon wrote in Proverbs, chapter 17:17 ~

"A friend loves at all times,

and a brother (sister) is born for adversity."

NIV

or the New Living Translation says:

"A friend is always loyal,

and a brother is born to help in time of need."

~~~

Stay close to your friends,

they are a treasure beyond measure!