Yesterday I met three friends for lunch. We met at a little restaurant near my home called The Gathering Place. It is an old home that has been moved to the restaurant site. All of the little rooms remain much as they were before it changed from a well-loved home to a cozy restaurant. There is a quaint front porch with rocking chairs to sit in while you wait for your friends to arrive. When you walk in the front door, you step onto old wooden floors. Each room is decorated in a different color scheme with lovely antiques, old fire places and intricate moldings all around the doors and windows. It really is like stepping into someone's dining room.

As if that wasn't enough, the food is delicious. You can even order High Tea (we've decided we really must do that some time). Everything homemade, and the deserts are absolutely irresistible (so we didn't - resist I mean).

The best part of all was spending time with those three precious friends. Our friendship began in a small Bible Study group years ago. We used to see each other every week. Now months go by before we are able to get everyone's schedule to allow us a visit. Yesterday two of our number had things come up at the last minute that kept them from coming. It doesn't seem to matter how much time goes by between visits; we just pick up the conversation as though we had never stopped talking.

Sharing conversation with women who love the Lord and love each other is a rich blessing indeed. The Father knew it wasn't good for us to try to get along all on our own. He knew that sometimes we just need someone with skin on to share our deepest moments. I have laughed, prayed and cried with these friends. I have called them at inconvenient times and had them stop everything to pray with me. I have known the indescribable comfort of a wordless hug just when I needed it most.

We could have sat and chatted all day, but the restaurant closes at three, and our sweet little waitress looked as though she was afraid we might never leave. So we reluctantly went out to the parking lot, exchanged hugs and promised we wouldn't wait such a long time to do this again.

Blessings,