AlisonH
Someone new was in church today, and there was a Sunday School lesson on the Biblical story of Jonathan and David and comments made on the essence of friendship.
I told them of how one small decision to be of service, of my friend Lisa and me going together to visit a mutual friend’s child in the hospital in Oakland once a week, had grown our friendship and had led, a year later, to Lisa’s offer to watch my preschoolers while I did swim therapy for my newly-hit lupus to treat my sudden and severe arthritis, if I would watch her little boy in return. We did that morning trade-off for three years four and then five days a week, an immense amount of her time that I could never, ever possibly have asked for. And what a difference it made in my life!
The new woman came up to introduce herself afterwards:Â saying, she had heard the other side of that story.
Say what? What other side?
She told me she had just moved from Lisa’s ward and that Lisa had told the story of how she was profusely grateful for my help with her two-year-old back in the day.
I was going, wait, wait, there’s nothing I did that remotely compares to what she did!
Wow. Huh. It got me thinking how, with true acts of service, both do come away feeling like they were blessed the most of all. But you know what, Lisa? You still did way more.
Meantime, thank you all for all the anniversary wishes! Today is the actual day. And after thirty years, I still think we have the best honeymoon story ever.
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Happy Anniversary! Has it really been 30 years?
As most Sundays, we had John for dinner yesterday. He is a good grandson, and we are delighted he is going to be around SLC for the next few years.
You may not remember,but on our first camping trip we were going to Palmyra, NY, I think, and we stopped at a state park in PA. That was before we had the camping trailer. I think we had two tents, one of which had the food, and naturally that was the one that was invaded by skunks. I recall beating lightly on the outside of the canvas to scare them away, all the time holding my breath.
The armadillos in the Florida park were more fun.\
Enjoy the day.
Dad
Comment by Dad 06.28.10 @ 3:44 amI went right over and chuckled at that story. The way you two talk to animals – are you sure your last name isn’t Doolittle?
Comment by twinsetellen 06.28.10 @ 5:29 amBut that’s how REAL friendship works. You give a little and get a lot, and each believes YOU are the lucky one!
Comment by Channon 06.28.10 @ 6:38 amYes, I clicked over to the skunk story too. How lucky you both were! It’s a story that will be part of the family history for years to come.
As for who-did-the-most between Lisa & you? I was once reminded that I might be the answer to someone’s prayer. Who me? I’m no one special. But it just might be that I’m the one that makes the phone call at the right time, stops in for a visit when a visit is just what’s needed…you get the picture. Sounds like you 2 were the answers to each other’s prayers, spoken or unspoken. Isn’t it nice your friendship has lasted all these years?
Comment by PghCathy 06.28.10 @ 1:33 pmWe were in the midst of moving our daughter today and wondering where to get help to unload the truck (fellows from the church had helped us load it earlier). Saw the son of a very old friend from many years ago while we were eating and he and his sons and two of their friends unloaded that truck in record time. We are grateful to those who give any kind of service, so your story was right on target for me today.
Comment by Sherry in Idaho 06.28.10 @ 6:02 pmLOVE the skunk story, that’s great! Glad it didn’t end in disaster. Happy Anniversary!!
Comment by Elizabeth 06.29.10 @ 6:05 amThough I am late, please let me add my wishes for many more happy anniversaries to the both of you! 🙂
Comment by Suzanne in Montreal 06.30.10 @ 7:02 amI love the way you once in a while mention the idea of “being of service”. It always makes me think and I believe it’s a good idea to get that concept out there in the world.
And yes. You do have the best honeymoon story ever. 😉
Comment by Lene 07.01.10 @ 9:24 amLeave a comment
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