Kissing in the rain, talks lit only by moonlight, falling asleep next to each other, the sweet romantic guy whispering in her ear... these are always my favorite parts of movies. I talk through the whole movie until those scenes, then a hush falls over the room, followed my a collective sigh.
After a day like today, I would normally write about love that looks that way. I would right about how hard and lonely it can be to wait for a guy who loves God and respects me and who kisses me in the rain after I've been with the kids all day. This is where I would write about how hard it is to wait for real love, how fabulous and frustrating guys can be and how thankful I am for them. I would remind myself that this season is special and worthwhile whether I get a bouquet of purple gerber daises, or just a hug from Caitlin and a box of kleenex.
And all of those things are still very much true.
But there's a pretty amazing love that God has allowed me to have in this season. A "love" story all of it's own. It has nothing to do with star-crossed lovers or kisses in the rain. It isn't a love story between a guy and a girl, even though I'm a major sucker for those. It's something that happened by the grace of God... between two best friends.
Go snag some hot chocolate and let me tell you about these friends.
There is a girl...Her name is Alyssa. She drives down to Southern California to check out a potential college with her youth group. Sounds simple, right? God had other plans.
Shift over to Emma. There is a group of high schoolers coming to stay the night at her house in Southern California while they look at a potential college. Sounds simple, right? God had other plans.
The weekend progressed. This college was looked at, a trip to Disney was made, food was eaten, laughter had taken place. It's Alyssa's last night in town. She is at Emma's house, loving dessert time. The crowd starts to scatter. Some go to bed, others to play games... but four girls stick around. Two of them being Emma and Alyssa. Encouraging and challenging conversation takes places... then Emma goes to her room for bed, and the three NorCal girls go to sleep, too. On the way out, Alyssa says to her friend, Kaylin, "I really really liked Emma."
Fast forward. Everyone is back home, life is moving on. Alyssa and Emma are now friends on Facebook, and some conversations have slowly started to emerge... just over Facebook messaging and the occasional text, but Alyssa just loves sweet Emma.
This story could have a chapter (or five or ten) dedicated just to sweet Emma. She is the most beautiful girl you ever did see, and has a heart of gold. She is defined by Christ and her love for Him is so evident in her daily life.
Slowly, God starts to form this friendship. Some might say they did things "backwards." By this, I mean they learned the deepest, most intimate details about each other's hearts, leaving {close to} nothing out. They did not know favorite colors, favorite foods, or the little quirks. But the foundation? The absolute core of a friendship? That came early. The desire to seek after the kingdom of heaven was so evident in this friendship from week one.
Now, for the present day. This friendship is so so breathtaking. The hand of God is so at work in every aspect of Emma and Alyssa's friendship. Together, they are able to seek God's plan... through the lovely, sing-a-song, daisy picking days, and through the remind-yourself-that-God-is-God days. They love each other. They are there for each other. Always. Forever. No matter what.
Alyssa would die for Miss Emma. John 15:13. That is how much she loves this girl.
This story is still being written. Lord-willing, this story will continue to be written for the rest of there lives. The story might increase in characters (husband, children, pets)... but the core of this friendship stays the same. Jesus. HE is the core. Emma's heart, Alyssa's heart... they may fail. But the Word of their amazing God? That stands FOREVER. He will not fail. He will not forsake. He will not hurt and wound.
This, my friends, is the story of Emmy and Lyss.
When I think about Emmy and Lyss, I think about Ruth and Naomi. There was a war going on. They had to make a long journey alone. Their world was in an uproar, and so were their hearts.
At one point, Naomi begs Ruth to turn around and leave her. Ruth looks at Naomi and says, "Don't urge me to leave you or turn my back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay." (Ruth 1:16)
Ruth was in it for good. She and Naomi were "lifers", a term that I lovingly use to describe Emmy and Lyss. No matter what happens, they're doing life together.
Today was one not-so-hot day. I am thinking tonight about all the different kinds of love in my life right now. This day made it a great excuse to tell people I love them~ my parents, my brother, and my "lifers".
The Emmy and Lyss story also reminds me of the love that surpasses every other love. Even the sweetest love I can experience on earth can't compare to His. He's the One who thought I was worth giving up a life for. Today I came home and took a look at John 17 and 1 Corinthians 13. You and I are, truly, deeply loved.
When I hear the word "love" so casually kicked around, I'm not just going to picture the end scene from my favorite movie. Love is more than a sweeping kiss or bright flowers or faded sunsets. Love is also a simple college trip, mind-blowing conversation, lifting one another up in prayer, and two friends that would do anything for each other.
They're holding on to each other, and they're holding on to the One that never let's go.
Emmy, I love you so much. You are a "lifer".
~Lyss :)
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