Fabulous Friend #3

It's finally time for another Friend Talkers post! You've "met" Kim and Joy. And now, I'd like to introduce you to my dear friend, Sarah! Many years ago, I told her that she was the answer to prayers that I hadn't even prayed faithfully. I didn't even know the half of it then.


Sarah is iron. The kind that sharpens. The kind that God delights to use for his glory.


I had been a Christian for a long while, but, until I met Sarah, I didn't know real Christian fellowship outside my family. I didn't know how to be my comedic free-speaking self and be my Jesus-needing, God-glorifying self. It was confusing. To me, Christian women seemed quiet, homely, boring, quiet, studious, serious, quiet and also excruciatingly quiet. (And there were no blogs that I knew of to prove to me how many wonderful, hilarious, honest, God-fearing, God-glorifying Christian women there really are!!!) So, naturally, I didn't know how an extroverted woman really fit in the church community.


Until I met Sarah. She was intensely earnest about her Creator. And she was always ready to throw her head back and laugh.


Sarah would call me to ask me to pray for her. Sarah told me that during the nursing months, she "just felt like Booby McBooberson". Sarah confessed specific sin in her life. Sarah laughed wonderfully loud. Sarah prayed with me. Sarah told me it was years before she realized that "The School of Hard Knocks" was not actually a school. Sarah shared what she learned in quiet times with me. Sarah taught me that making Tuna Helper was not actually cooking. Sarah introduced me to the phrase "purity in thought life". Sarah would run and kick her bum and flail her arms just to hear me laugh out loud.


Sarah was not self-protective. She gave no pretense of being the model Christian wife and mother. And, yet, in so many ways, she was the God-given model who showed me that being a Christian means that we do not hide. We do not hide our faith. We do not hide our personality. We do not hide our sin. We do not hide our fears. We do not hide our weaknesses. We do not hide our gifts. We are an exposed people.


I learned this by Sarah's example.


In the first few years of our friendship, we spoke everyday and saw each other at least once a week. Five years ago, Sarah and Kurt moved to Los Angeles. And just a year ago, they moved again across the country to the Pennsylvania (to her hometown and the hometown of "The Office"!). In the last five years, Sarah and I have had four reunions ranging from 3 hours to 4 days. The Lord has been good to protect our friendship through life's many trials and transitions while lacking the daily contact we enjoyed during the foundation of our friendship. Just a few weeks ago, we had one of these reunions when my sister flew her to Minneapolis. Here are some pics:


Me, Sarah and Neely at Palomino.




Sarah being snagged by one of the dueling pianist at SHOUT! after requesting none other than "Sarah" by Jefferson Starship. Snagged for what?




Oh the irony of Sarah being forced to dance to "I like Big Butts". She has no junk in the trunk. But, she DOES have a sense of humor! Thanks for playing along, Sar!





Posted once already, but worthy of a repeat. I love you, SARAH!



And in closing....
3 random Sarah facts:

1. Sarah has made me more ham sandwiches than anyone...even my own mother!
2. She took my profile picture.
3. She and I put on fake British accents for the hotel staff in del Mar...just a year ago. And, yes, we knew we were being junior high. It's that kicking-your-bum-flailing-your-arms kind of freedom that I enjoy with my dear friend, Sarah.