July 27, 2021 – Click here to listen
So yesterday my wife and I were discussing our upcoming trip and she suddenly said, “Uh oh!”
I replied, “What is it?”
And as it turned out she was off an entire week for the departure date for our trip. She thought we were flying out this coming Saturday, but our flight is not until the following Saturday. Wat? I missed the mini-lobster season in the Keys and rushed around like a madman trying to get everything accomplished prior to coming to Atlanta because she had the dates wrong?
LOL . . . No harm-no foul. We will just hangout here in Atlanta a week longer or maybe go up to North Carolina and stay a few days and see some more friends in this area. My children are busy with their demanding careers, and it seems the grandkids are all busy with school preparations football practice, music lessons and cheerleading practice. So, we are going to find things to do that do not interfere with their busy-busy lives.
Some grandparents and even parents seem to roll into depression and feel lonely and unwanted because their children are busy living their own lives. When our children finished high school and went off to college and began forging their own lives, I was initially struck by the empty nest syndrome, but I rather quickly accepted it.
The problem was that we had always done most everything as a family. With my demanding career, I didn’t have time to try and make friends aside from the ones associated with our children, because I just didn’t have that much time. So when they left the nest, we had to make new friends that weren’t centered around them. It was quite the transition.
We had to find new friends and I found that the best friends I made were the ones I met in church. Sadly, with the advent of Covid, many folks have quit going to church altogether. In my estimation getting in a church with a Bible study class with other God-fearing men strengthens me and trust me I need strength.
The Bible is clear that we need fellowship with other Christians. No matter where you might find them in this rapidly changing culture, it is well worth the effort to seek them out. Meet for breakfast, lunch, or dinner and start building the bonds that will last forever.
I’ve met with tons of friends just driving up here to Atlanta and will see several more while on this trip. In fact, we are having dinner with a couple I haven’t seen in a couple of years tonight. In my estimation, one cannot have too many friends.
How do we make friends?
Proverbs 18:24
A man who has friends must himself be friendly,