Let Me Introduce You

Today I have the distinct privilege to accompany my friend of over forty years to Shipshewana. The ultimate purpose in going is that she has two tickets to 'A Parade of Pianos" tonight at the Blue Gate Theater. Her husband is out of town on a relief mission so I'm her next choice. I'm delighted. We decided to make a day of it and will leave around eight this morning.

Bernice and her husband and four young boys moved into our town when her youngest son was less than two. They began attending the church we attended and somehow I was introduced to Bernice through a neighbor who is also a friend of mine. I have no idea what drew us to one another. What I do remember is that I visited Bernice with three kids in tow when she lived in a rented house behind De Kock Supply Company. Lauri was a newborn and I recall laying her on Bernice's bed for a nap and worrying that the baby would be too cold as it was winter and the window was open.

Bernice is a few years older than I and I suppose I was looking for a mentor. She had experienced things that were still ahead of me and was willing to be a great encourager. I always claimed that Bernice taught me how to openly be affectionate with my children. I was a worrier and she was the hopeless optimist. God knew I needed Bernice in my life. She got me through many a sorry time in my life. It wasn't long until we spent every single day together. All our activities were combined. Many evenings we ate together, played games and cards as couples and when the kids were school age, we would put them down to sleep in some corner while we finished our games. When we gave out, which took much longer than these days, we would plop ourselves on a sofa or somewhere on the floor and sleep the night through. In the morning we would take our tribe home and get them ready for school.

We have laughed more laughs than we can count and we have shed tears on each other's shoulders dozens of times. Bernice is a person I can depend on to always think the best of me, regardless. I can share my deepest, darkest failures with her and know that she will not share them with others and that she won't wipe my face with them down the road. If I understand the term, soulmate, I would say, Bernice is my soulmate.

Our friendship has had its tests. Failures have slipped in and disrupted our friendship, BUT, through God's grace and the healing of time, friendship was restored. We have talked about that difficult time in our lives and have confessed that God had some purpose in seperating us for a period. As our families grew and became adults, our lives have taken more distinct paths. We both have extended families now of great number. Bernice and her husband spend the winters away so I have had to learn to "do without" her for long periods. Emails are great as we can still connect regularly.

Today? Today, we will talk and share and philosophize. We will look at a million things offered to the one that would succumb. We will smile and walk away as neither of us need another material thing. We will try to connect with some of our Amish friends that live in the area. And we will enjoy the peaceful, serene sights, smells, sounds of Amish country. I love it.