In December, two days after Christmas, my husband and I celebrated our 43rd wedding anniversary. Instead of spending time away at a special retreat, we decided to celebrate it with family members that we had not seen for a while and drove the 3-1/2 – 4 hours to be with them. In my heart, I felt the need to renew friendships and relationships with both family and friends and this was just the beginning.
Recently, I received a phone call from my brother whom I had not talked with in ten years. He had chosen to not let family members contact him by phone and to know his whereabouts. We tried several times to “google” him but came up with nothing. So I began to pray and ask the Holy Spirit to “speak to his heart” and have him contact someone in the family. Four weeks ago when I answered a routine phone call, it was my brother asking if he and his wife and daughter could visit with us the week after Easter. They stayed for most of the week, and we were able to catch up on the past ten years’ events. What a wonderful reunion. Other family members were notified of the wonderful time we spent with them. He is now planning to come back for another visit during Thanksgiving, along with two other family members and their families.
At this time in my life, it has become an important priority for me to renew friendships with both family and friends that I have not seen in quite a while. This week I had a visit from another sister who I had not seen in 15 years but talked to on the phone each week. She has a bipolar disorder and had some questions she needed answering by visiting with us.
Sometimes all it takes is simply a phone call or sending out a card telling family and/or friends that you have missed them in your life. You have initiated the contact and it is up to them whether they will choose to reciprocate like my brother and sister did.
I believe prayer is a powerful tool and that broken relationships can be restored, mended, and healed with just a simple act of kindness and compassion on our part. Don’t tell yourself that they should contact you first or wait until “one day” when you have more time. Take that leap of faith and renew those lost friendships with family and friends today. You will be happy you took the time and so will they.
Blessings on you until we talk soon.