Friends

Everything happens for a reason.  People come into our lives, and sometimes they go as well.  But its all for a reason.  God always, ALWAYS has a plan.  He knows who we will meet, when we will meet them.  He knows who will walk away from us, and when they will walk away.  He knows the excitement of a new friendship and the heartache of a broken friendship.  He knows--He's there with us through each and every step of life. 
I've got a friend just like this.  I was thinking just a few days ago how amazing and neat it is to see God work timing throughout our lives.  
I met this incredibly sweet and funny woman, through Facebook--Imagine that! (Ha! Isn't that where everyone meets these days?") 
No, seriously-- I met her through Facebook, after I found her husband on there.  I've known him since we were in Kindergarten.  One of those that I've not seen since we graduated high school(Class of '91).  Each time I find someone I went to school with, I'll check out their pics and see what all they've been up to over the last few years.  I was deeply touched by his pictures.  I would also see pictures on his feed that his wife had posted and tagged him in.  And my heart just broke and it ached for them. As I sit here, 11:30 at night, while everyoen else is asleep-including the cat who is laying on the table next to me, and its so hard to keep the tears from coming.  I don't know exactly what they dealt with, but I have a little bit of an inkling.
 I knew him, but it had been YEARS since I'd seen him.  I had no clue who she was, but still, my heart just hurt for them.  I sent her a friend request, she accepted, and over the last couple of years now, I've watched her, followed her, got lots of giggles out of funny posts, watched her kids grow, through pics, and said a lot of prayers as I've seen her posts asking for prayers.    This mom is one of the strongest women I have come to know.  And I am SO thankful for her.  God always knows what we need, just when we need it.  Not too many weeks ago, she sent me a message via FB and said she'd been praying for me.  Unbeknownst to her, I was having a really rough day.  She had NO clue what I was dealing with.  But she felt the need to pray for me, and thats just what she did.  She messaged me and said "Hi, just wanted you to know I was thinking about you and praying for you!"
My God never ceases to amaze me, that He puts the right people in our paths and in our lives at just the right time.  It may be for a season, or for a life time, but He DOES bring people into our lives.   She's given me lots of encouragement just in the last week.  You may not already know, but by the time you read this, you will--know how thankful I am that God brought you and your friendship into my life!   
Ecclesiastes 4:9-11 ⁹ Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: ¹⁰ If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!