of muffins & birthdays

once upon a time, in a galaxy far far away, there were two little girls. 

the first little girl had curly golden hair & bright green eyes. The other had stick-straight brown hair chopped in a bob & a smile that never showed her teeth. they had known each other since forever [which is code for "I can't remember how long"]. 

one day, after being in the same sunday school class together, the golden-haired girl got hold of a phone & called the girl with the bob. "hi. do you want to be friends?" she asked as one five-year-old to another. frankly, I have no idea what the brown-headed girl said in reply. I hope it was good. but whatever the response, it marked the official beginning of a friendship.

later, the two girls took a tap dancing class together. this involved dressing up like sailors & dancing to a song about the good ship lollipop. the golden-haired girl's outfit was complete with a green cast wrapping her broken arm, making her look like a hardcore child athlete. beside her, her devoted brown-haired friend diligently tapped her shoes in a toneless clatter [when she wasn't dissolving into hysterics before a performance, that is. but that's a story for another time].

time ran along, and the brown-haired girl left with her family to attend a different church. for a while, the two friends went separate ways. until, that is, one night when their fathers happened to meet at a homeschool support group meeting. I believe there was some sort of ensuing conversation involving various points of controversial theology. whatever the case, on the way home, the brown-haired girl's mother announced that she had invited the golden-haired girl's family over for dinner.

eyes widened all across the backseat. "but, mom... we don't even remember them! what if we don't like each other?"

they need not have worried. judging by the number of sleepovers, taco bell birthdays, ding-dong ditchings, movie nights, starbucks runs, & shopping dates that were to come, I'd say they didn't mind each other terribly.

years passed, and the girls grew taller. well, one of them did. the golden-haired girl started to be asked, while shopping at the mall, whether she was Taylor Swift. and suddenly, as life began to swirl faster around them both, the brown-haired girl began to realize how blessed she was to have such a friend.

as she sat in class on the first day of November, the brown-haired girl mused on the passing of years & the growing of friendships. & in particular she thanked the Lord for that dear golden-haired girl who called her up one morning & asked to be friends.

so. as the years continue to roll along, I hope you'll always keep your eyes on the One who made you & who delights to see you grow in maturity. keep smiling, keep loving, keep forgiving, keep learning from your mistakes. never let go of your calling as a follower of the only One whose opinion of you matters. 

happy birthday, muffin. now go eat some cake before I come over & eat it for you. =]]

always,

rory