Every Single Morning

One of the things I love about visiting my son Matt and daughter-in-law Becca is that they include me in everything they do, which means I've come to know quite a few of their friends in the almost four years since they moved to Canada. From dinner in the homes of their friends to cookouts at Matt and Bec's to story time at the library to a picnic at the playground to dance class to a plethora of other events, it's been super fun to meet and get to know the Canadians who have become extended family to my kids and grandkids. It's especially fun for me to see Coraline (and Amelie, too, when she's a little older) interacting with her little girlfriends. It doesn't matter if they've only been apart for one day, they go crazy when they see each other ... hugging and holding hands and skipping along ... so very happy to be reunited once again. Every single time I witness those scenes between Coraline and her friends, I'm reminded of my own gal friends I've been blessed to know over the years ... and yes, I do mean blessed.

I've known my friend Debbie for more than 25 years ... we first met at a women's Bible study after I moved to Kansas, and we hit it off right from the start. Debbie's originally from Kentucky, so there was the instant Southern connection between us ... we both know and understand Southern vocabulary and what Southern hospitality is all about. We not only know how to cook fried okra and grits, we know how to eat them, too, and we fully understand that there's nothing more sinful than sitting outside on a warm Sunday afternoon eating blackberry cobbler smothered in vanilla ice cream. We've shared the devastating heartache of losing parents and the joy of watching our children grow up, get married and begin lives of their own. We've laughed together until we cried, and we've cried together until we laughed. When more than a few people from my former church decided they could no longer be friends with me after I came out, Debbie decided she could.

If you've been reading along with me for a long time you may recall that when I was first diagnosed with diabetes, I had a ton of trouble getting my blood sugar regulated. I hit the deck more times than I can remember ... not quite sure how I didn't break a bone or two or crack my head open during those crashes, but fortunately I managed to always come out pretty much unscathed. My blood sugar bouncing around like a kangaroo back then caused more than a few people to worry that I'd go to bed one night and not wake up the next morning. But it was my friend Debbie who took it upon herself to call me every single morning to make sure I was awake, had eaten breakfast, taken my meds and checked my blood sugar. It was Debbie who called me every single morning to check in with me and make sure I was okay ... not just for a few days or even a few weeks, friends ... Debbie called to check on me every single morning for at least a couple or three years. No one asked her to go the extra mile to call me each morning to make sure I hadn't slipped into a diabetic coma and died in my sleep. Debbie made those morning calls for one reason and one reason only ... she called me every single morning because she is my friend.

Over the last couple of weeks, Debbie's been dealing with some serious health issues of her own ... she's had two surgeries on her heart in less than a week and has spent several days in ICU. Needless to say, talking with her on the phone hasn't been an option, but her husband and I have been texting like crazy as he keeps me updated on her condition. I actually shouted out loud when I got a text from him this afternoon telling me she had been moved out of ICU into a private room in the cardiac care wing at the hospital, and I am chomping at the bit to get to see her in person. I've been so very worried about my sweet friend, and I am over the moon happy to know that she's finally improving and on the road to recovery.

In writing about Debbie's faithfulness to call me every morning for all those years, I can't help but think about a verse from the book of Lamentations in the Bible, and it seems only fitting to close tonight's post with those words. Keep on feeling better dear friend ... can't wait to see you back on your feet swigging some sweet tea and chowing down on a big bowl of grits!

"The Lord's lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness." --- Lamentations 3:22-23