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Sometimes we call ourselves “The Golden Girls”.  Often we argue about who is Blanche, Dorothy or Rose and depending on what stunt we have pulled off during the past week determines which character we are.  And that could mean doing a Sophia as well.

But who we are, are three “Joy Girls (Just Older Youth)” who God placed as neighbors and time made us friends.  We go to bible study every Wednesday, have lunch and then depending on what is going on locally or what errands one of us needs to do, we play the afternoon away.  I call it my “Play Day” and I work hard the other days so that I can play hard on this day.

One of us has recently moved but is still close enough to make a few Wednesdays a month and during a recent reunion of our Wednesday play dates I realized just how special this friendship is.

While we availed ourselves to Carrabbas Trio Lunch Special and tall glasses of ice tea, we ended up sitting there for 3 hours catching up with each other’s lives.  We shared what our kids and grand kids were doing.  Some highs, some lows, and some just plain cute!  We shared how are bodies were doing and not doing as well as what our husbands were doing and not doing.  We laughed at how aggravated we get at our spouses and how frustrated they must get with us; yet the three of us wouldn’t trade them for diamonds, Bentleys or a home filled with hired help.  We shared our foibles, frustrations, and fears; wondering how God wanted us to enjoy life yet made bodies that as they aged take all our time and money to maintain.

We spent a wonderful afternoon where we laughed, cajoled, consoled and commiserated.   As we said our goodbye’s, I realized that this friendship between the three of us was better than any doctor’s visit, any prescription medication, and any psychiatric counseling session available.  My heart was filled with affection, my body felt none of the usual aches and pains and my soul was filled with peace and contentment.

As I said, I work hard not to miss a play day because I need this like I need my blood thinner that helps me not to stroke out.

Friendship is a prescription for healing and one that should be refilled often.  It flavors our world with sweetness, warms our hearts with love, and reminds us that God brought good friends into our lives as a reminder that we are never alone.