If you’re on Facebook, you are familiar with “Words with Friends”. If not, it’s like Scrabble. You can play the game on your phone with friends hundreds of miles away or with an electronic challenger. You can even play a solo game to enhance your skills.
Last week, a friend I’ve known for decades flew in to visit. In the course of our conversations, she invited me to play “Words with Friends” –namely her. Once I was on, another friend from a different life season invited me to play. I had two games going at once. I lost the games, but it was a fun way to connect.
Our actual live words with friends during her five-day visit were nothing like the game (which we play now that she’s home.) We weren’t limited to seven letters and words that fit. We never passed and turned in our tiles. Totally heartfelt and transparent. Life-giving. Some conversations were so deep we felt we had hit double letter and triple word scores.
As we covered our decades, we reminisced…
From party lines to I phones
From dorm life to struggling grad students
From carbon paper to computers
From challenging professors to wondering how we made it
From the same major to different venues to practice our profession
From remembering extended families to life and loss
From ethnic heritage to retaining traditions
From choices to paths in different directions
From our love of food to new recipes
From eighteen-year old freshmen to dare I say it—senior citizens
Yes, we laughed, shed a tear or two, filled in the sentences and paragraphs where each of us only knew highlighted titles.
We found a common thread in every season: God’s provision and blessings. Make that two threads We woke each morning wondering what’s left to talk about—then filled in a day without silence.
Friendship…an extraordinary treasure, much like the song from my childhood. “Make new friends…but keep the old. One is silver and the other gold”
I hope you have that treasure of a special friendship, whether it has lasted decades or a few years. Either way, perhaps today is a day to make a phone call or write a note and tell someone.
For more on words with friends, click here to read Paul Tripp’s devotion.
Amen. Friendship and fellowship are among the greatest blessings in life.
Silver and gold, JD and our writer community is among those. Thanks for commenting. Marilyn
What a lovely post. I have a dear friend that I’ve known for over twenty-five years. We speak on the phone every Tuesday evening. I’m so grateful for that friendship, and your post reminded me to be thankful today. Thank you.
So glad for you to have that kind of friendship. It is a rare treasure. Marilyn
Your post reminds me of how much I miss my college roommate. We reminisce much the same as you and your friend, but it’s been too long since our last face-to-face meeting. Yes–those moments and memories are more precious than gold. Also brings to mind our dearest friend and confidant–our Lord Jesus.
Definitely! Thanks for your comment, Katherine and adding the most important Friend we have.
Through tears, I say thank you …..and lots more….as always. I’m the one that had lots and lots of “words” to share with you, a very special friend, during our special time. Thank you Marilyn Marotta Nutter for the visit, the thoughts, the sharing in writing, and for being the wonderful friend that you are (I know, I shouldn’t end a sentence with a verb … but you’ll be okay with that … for now) and always have been. Love you!
Ditto. Love you, M
Loved this, Marilyn! I have some friends like that – so dear. When I went back to Dallas a month ago after being gone 14 years, we picked up as if we’d never been separated. Those are forever friends and I thank God for them. Great post!
We are blessed to have those relationships, Crickett. Thanks for sharing, Marilyn
God is so good to give us precious friends to walk through life with. He created us for community and relationships. I admit I am blessed with some really good friends that I know are gifts from God. He is so good to us.
Yes, Joanna. I’ve had a few life-long friends but many from different seasons in my life who were God-placed for special reasons. I am grateful for each one. Thanks for you comment. Marilyn
Yes, a true friend is a priceless treasure. I enjoyed your post, Marilyn.
Thank you for causing my to think about my treasured friends.
We are only guaranteed this moment to spend time with a friend. Glad you were moved by this post, Connie. Marilyn
Loved this post. I’m an avid Words with Friends player and I appreciate it the way you contrasted the game in to our words in life.
Thank you Candyce! Marilyn
Friendship is a gift from God. As as we meet more people in our writer community through internet and conferences, we build on that gift. I played Words with Friends with my husband when he was traveling with his job. It was a great way for us to connect. He is great with vocabulary and he usually won!
Thanks, Barbara. Yes, I,too, continue to be encouraged by the “words” of our writing community who offer encouraging voices. Marilyn
Love this! Friendships truly are one of the greatest blessings in life.
Definitely! Marilyn
So true! I chatted on Saturday (on the phone) with a friend of 35 years. We don’t talk real often but it’s always like no time has passed. That’s a treasure!
Don’t you just love picking up where you left off, even if there are months in between?
Thanks, Loretta, for sharing. Marilyn
Marilyn,
Your post is a treasure! I loved the “from…to” sentences that show shared discoveries throughout the decades. Friendship is indeed a blessing!
And..”from” the old to the “new” as well–growing and sharing in experiences as in our writing friends. Thanks for being one of my “new” friends, Jeannie. Marilyn
I have a close friend and we never seem to run out of words either! God blesses us with wonderful friends and rich fellowship!
I’m so glad you can relate. Thank you for visiting my blog and commenting.
Marilyn