Jen Russum

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Sister-Friends and Heaven on Earth

I am flying to Texas tonight. If you are reading this, I might be on a plane or maybe I have already landed on that Texas soil. Perhaps it’s later in the day and I am laughing with old friends or eating some of my favorite Mexican food.

I love Texas so much. I say it’s my favorite state. And it is, but not so much because of its quirky, almost rebellious, independence, its rich history, its booming cities or small country towns, its array of restaurants, shopping, sports and art, although I love all those things…

Texas is my favorite because of the people there and the sweet memories I have from six years of living in the Lone Star State.

I have these friends you see. They are like sisters. We always say you have family, you have friends, and you have friends that are like family. And these girls are my family friends. I would do anything for them, and I’m pretty sure they would do the same for me.

And the sad thing is, I haven’t seen a few of them face to face in almost TWO years. Two years. Seriously, that is such a long time, it almost makes me sick to think about it. And although I love being married and living in Arizona and going to graduate school, sometimes my heart just aches for these friends. Phone calls and tweets cannot make up for being able to curl up on the couch at a best friend’s house where you can pour your guts out, cry your eyes out, or laugh until it hurts.

And I know it sounds weird, but sometimes I comfort myself by thinking of heaven. I think, although I don’t see my friends enough now, I get to spend ALL eternity with them in heaven. Seriously, I will probably see them every single day. Maybe we will even be roommates in our Father’s house. And I know heaven is all about Jesus, but I think one of the ways I will worship Him is by thanking him for these precious friendships and praising Him for creating such beautiful, unique Godly women who use their gifts for Him in such amazing ways. And then I will thank Him for His grace… for these friendships that I don’t deserve and for the privilege of watching my sister-friends grow in Him.

But heaven is not yet. This weekend I will be eating chips and queso with these sister-friends in the flesh… and that, my friends, is a bit of heaven on earth.

Comments

  1. I understand this! My 3 sister friends live in Indiana, Illinois, and Kentucky while I am in NC. The four of us haven't been together in about two years as well. I'm hoping next summer we can fix that, but that is till longer than I want to wait!

  2. I love to be surrounded by the people I love…to see them all the time. Not just get together and go out, but really live life with them. Cook, fold laundry, run errands… Now I live 2000 miles away from all of my friends and family, but I imagine that somehow, in heaven all of that will be possible.

    Enjoy your trip!

  3. Have a fantastic trip. My sister friends are far away too and every time we get together (it's always a trek for someone!) I feel totally refreshed and renewed. Sister friend time is good for the soul. So is queso! Safe travels!