The London Fog – The Gift of Friendships 

 

I don’t recall exactly when I started praying for friendships for my children, but I do recall times they have been answered. God has been gracious in providing connections through so many unique ways, resulting in precious friendships for my kids that I believe will last for many years. Of course, there are always those friendships that come and go, as they typically do during certain stages of childhood. It’s easy for little kids to make friends, but as they grow and develop their own interests, or move to a different town with their family, or meet new people through extracurricular activities, those early friendships tend to fade. My daughters have been blessed with many friendships over the years, some of which have fizzled out, but God, in his goodness, has given them lasting ones, too. 

I’m thinking of a lovely young lady, a dear and treasured friend of my oldest daughter. When I prayed for a friend for her years ago, I didn’t know who I would be praying for. I only knew that I wanted her to have a companion and a confidante with whom she could share her heart in full trust. When God brought this girl into our lives, I immediately realized the answer to prayer. She is truly a delight to be with and has a joyful countenance, a big heart and contagious love of life. She delights in making others smile, and I remember how not long ago she was excited to spoil me with her homemade London Fog. My daughter had invited her to come over, and she brought every single ingredient needed to make the warm drink, sweetly putting it together for me and treating me like a queen. She lights up a room the moment she enters it, loves all around her, giving grace through her remarkable ability to listen, laugh and be present. The London Fog she created was delicious and was the best I have ever had! 

These are the kind of friends who are truly gifts, and I am so grateful for the friendships that my girls have cultivated. As with many things in life, sometimes the road to true and lasting friendship is fraught with false starts and disappointments. There have been many situations where my daughters have been deeply wounded by others and have had to work through heartache. As difficult as those situations were, they have had to rise above them and learn what makes a true friend. They are not perfect friends either, nor am I. We all fail people, and that is a tough place to be. We all make mistakes. The difference between a sincere and beautiful friendship is the willingness to be humble, admit when you are wrong, and apologize with grace and selflessness.  

I continue to pray for new friendships for my daughters in the future. I pray that they will be wise and discerning and most of all, that they will be true friends too. I watch with pure joy when my girls bless their friends with handwritten notes, gifts, phone calls, and birthday celebrations. I am so grateful to have a front-row seat to witness God working through them! 

Ben Rector sings an incredible song called “Old Friends,” and I know you will enjoy the lyrics. I sent it to a group of friends I’ve known since grade 6, and it made me teary-eyed because you can’t make old friends; they must be earned over time. What my girls are building now are ‘old friends’ that will walk with them through the hills and valleys of life as they navigate all the stages of womanhood in the years to come. Enjoy the song today, and remember, don’t stop praying for your children, asking God to bless them with future friendships and future spouses. I encourage you to get out your journal, write down the date, put down your child’s name and write out a prayer just for them. 

 

Here is mine for my children:  

 

Dear Lord, thank you for each one of my children, and I commit them to you and the path they will walk on. Go before them and protect them. Guide them, Lord, toward wise, encouraging, loving, and sincere friends. I pray for friends to come into their life to lift them up, not tear them down. Bless them with friends they can confide in, laugh with cry and adventures that will leave them with lasting beautiful memories. I pray they will be true friends to attract the right kinds of friends and place them in the right situations at the right time! Lord, you are loving and sovereign and know exactly what my children need. In your precious name, Jesus, amen. 

 

Ben Rector – Old Friends (Official Video) 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SU8gxrhs1g