may we grow old together?

I went to a surprise 80th birthday party today as a friend/companion. The room was a beautiful room located in the Michigan League...a very old building on UofM's campus. We entered the room and found a place for her to sit where she would be comfortable...next to another dear old friend of hers. I found a seat behind her where I was available and yet, out of the way. I watched friend after friend approach her and give her a kiss on the cheek and sweet hug. They would smile at one another and do some quick catch ups and then the friend would move aside so another could get a chance. It was so beautiful to see the years of friendship and the love shared in a moment's glance. The Birthday Girl arrived and we shouted, "Surprise! Happy Birthday!" and immediately broke out in song. The tears in her eyes as she glanced around the room at so many loved ones was so beautiful.
Later in the car, she said, "Did you see that man I was just talking with? I was his teacher when he was in the nursery. He has always loved science...bugs and all those things."
The man she was describing is older than me... perhaps much older.
I got goosebumps imagining knowing someone for such a length of time.
The whole afternoon took me by surprise as I felt the warmth and love in a community.
I couldn't help but think of the community God calls us to be a part of...and not only calls us to be part of, but so dearly wants us to experience such friendship and love. How wonderful it must be to be part of a church for 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 or 60 years and to experience Christ in a way that is so personal and so real. What an example of the body.

And we entered her small apartment and she closed her door and said, "Aren't Christian friends wonderful? There just aren't any friends like Christian friends."

And I smiled.

So here's a toast to friendship... may we have the opportunity to experience a lifetime filled with dear friends...