Value of church friends

(Pictured: Jacob and his parents)
I'm sitting here overstuffed from going to graduation parties!  This week is our school's graduation and there are parties scheduled almost every night.  We started at Stephanie Pettrey's party at the Greggton Community Building.  Stephanie was overwhelmed with guests (no telling how many) and her mom had to run out and get more food!  She had veggie trays, chips and dips, sandwiches, cake, and much more.  I mentally treated this as the appetizer course and behaved, until I got my cake.  One of the guests said, "Mrs. Petticoffer, aren't you going to Jacob's party later?  You better saved some room!", as only church friends can do.  I sat there and told her I didn't want to be rude and was saving room for later.  I wasn't even offended, I thought, "We've gone to church together for over a decade, she can say whatever she wants!"  I took pictures and visited from table to table. I felt right at  home with each person and I believe I can say that they felt the same way.  I held some babies and joked with some college students, asked about people's health and family and just enjoyed myself.  I thought about it more as I drove the next party, my friends at church are so valuable to me.  I need someone to say "watch out" every once in a while and for people to give me advice and tidbits of information I don't think that I need, that may come in handy! :)
Well, on to the Roche' house.  Boy, was there a spread of Oriental food and other treats. My mom cooked all afternoon and made two large containers of fried rice (about 15 lbs!)  I started taking pictures and watched as the guests arrived.  It was like one big happy family.  After the musical prayer (a cell phone went off), we lined up for food.  I was beside another one of my friends.  She said, "Jennifer, you're really packing it on.."  I looked at her plate and it was just as full as mine! Hey, but I figured she'd been my church friend for over twenty years and she can say whatever she wants to say.  It was true, but she had never really seen me eat.
As I went back for seconds she said "Girl,  you've got an appetite!"  Later I noticed her gnoshing on something else and I said, "What you got there?"  She laughed and said she couldn't help it.   Who cares?  We're church friends and that's just fun. For the record, I only had one piece of cake at each party...
I sat down and drank a bottle of water to balance all of the food I'd consumed.  I watched as people who normally don't sit together at church talked and fellowshipped and had a great time.  I thought, "People are missing out when they don't stay in church."
The men found a place to gather (around Denise Dean's fudge cake) and the ladies were grouped in the kitchen and living room.  Mrs. Withers didn't sit down as she helped hostess and visit with the ladies.  Kids were running in and out and playing outside until they were filthy, having a great time.
There was no alcohol, gossip (to my knowledge...), immodest or inappropriate dress, smoking, or vile language.  The only activities were basketball for the boys and fellowship for the rest of us, I'm sorry, I failed to mention eating as an activity.
I hope the graduates felt loved tonight and can realize that this love comes from the Lord and from parents who sacrifice and pray for them.  I am praying that these kids can catch on to the value of church friends and tie their heart strings to the church family and those that love them.
It's taken me a while to enjoy graduation time, I used to think of it as a overrated event, but it's really an opportunity to make a difference and it's about wrapping our kids in so much love that they couldn't imagine a better way to live.  Tomorrow we're celebrating with Jarhett Wenger, grilled hamburgers...I guess I will be skipping breakfast and lunch!

Philippians 2

¹If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, 

 if any comfort of love,

 if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,

²Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love,

being of one accord, of one mind. ³Let nothing be done through

strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other

better than themselves. ⁴Look not every man on his own things,

but every man also on the things of others. 

⁵Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 

(Stephanie with her mom)