“Mom!” my kids said in unison. “Look to your left and roll down your window!”

I had just pulled into the parking lot of my daughter’s gymnastics class and lo and behold a friend I hadn’t seen in a while pulled up beside me.

We laughed and hugged, oohed and aahed over how big the kids are growing before we moseyed our way inside.

Just as I was opening the door, another friend pulled up and we repeated the process, discussing who all is in gymnastics and how they’re doing. We had taken a break when the world turned upside down but we were glad to be back.

Honestly, before we pulled in the parking lot, I was looking forward to chilling out during gym class. It was the first day of our home-school community, Classical Conversations. I’d left my house at 7:30, tutored for 3 hours, sat in English class with my daughter for 2 more hours, and then wrangled kids out the door.

I was beat.

But when I saw my friends that I don’t see on a regular basis, I forgot about my tired mind and stiff body. It was so good to see them and catch up! Those hugs and “Oh my goodness it’s so good to see you” with smiles that can’t be fabricated were priceless.

I think that’s the essence of Psalm 119:74 –

Those who fear you shall see me and rejoice,

because I have hoped in your word.

I know that people who don’t believe in Christ have friends and smile and enjoy unexpected company.

But there’s something special about friends who are knit together with a common spiritual belief who see each other suddenly. It’s an experience like Elizabeth had when Mary, the mother of Jesus walked in her house. It says the baby leapt inside her womb at the sound of Mary’s voice. (Luke 1:39-45)

There are deeper ties that bind us than we realize. Oswald Chambers says “Be rightly related to God, find your joy there and out of you will flow rivers of living water. (Aug 31)

When we meet a friend who is rightly related to God, one who’s walking in obedience and in step with the Spirit, streams of living water and hope burst forth from her! It pours though her eyes as she laughs, her demeanor as she carries herself, her speech as she communicates, her face as she smiles.

And it’s not hope because everything in her life is perfect. It’s because of a hope anchored in something beyond this life.

Her hope is in God’s Word and that those promises are true and He who said them is faithful. That girl blesses others – her friends love to see her face and feel refreshed when they leave her presence.

Oh how I long to be that person!

Father, you created us for community. I thank you for the people around us that I can share this life with. Lord help us develop friendships and may we seek to be so saturated in your word that we spill out living water to those we are in contact with. In Jesus name, Amen.

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This post is apart of a series called 31 stories of hope for every homeschooler. To see the entire series, click HERE.