An Unexpected Friend

Posted on May 25, 2024 by mitchteemley
'Hold on, little one!' MadebyRona (deviantart.com)Source: MadeByRona

“Have you ever found a cherished friend in someone you’d mistaken for an enemy?”

~The Wishing Map

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About mitchteemley

Writer, Filmmaker, Humorist, Thinker-about-stuffer
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11 Responses to An Unexpected Friend

  1. Willie Torres Jr. says:
    May 25, 2024 at 9:40 pm

    Sad to say , I have.. And we are still Best friends, many years later.

    Reply
  2. AKA says:
    May 26, 2024 at 12:32 am

    Yes, strangely my bully in elementary school became my lifelong best friend.

    Reply

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  4. Celebrate His Love says:
    May 26, 2024 at 6:28 pm

    To answer your question, yes! It was a lady in our church who used to ask a lot of prying questions. It felt to me like she was searching for ‘the dirt’ on me. Truth be told, there was a lot of dirt to be found. And that was my problem not hers…because I’d never shared my whole story with the ladies at our small church. I had some old, dusty skeletons in my closet labeled ‘Shame.’ I later learned that those skeletons only had power over me as long as I kept them locked up.

    In 2007, our Women’s Ministry Team decided they were tired of hearing that I was speaking at other church’s events, so they insisted I speak at our upcoming women’s retreat. I knew then that I had to share my story…the whole story, to lay down my wicked pride and get real with my ladies. Prior to that, I’d had a pivotal two years of surrender…where the lesson became vivid…and the challenge was clear. God prodded me sharply in 2001 to begin sharing my ‘whole’ story at speaking events. He taught be through several resources and people that if I didn’t tell where Jesus brought me from, I couldn’t share what HE can do in their lives (other women’s). I had to surrender my pride and shame for the sake of the Gospel message!

    Sharing it with my own ladies was different. It was risky. I wouldn’t just get in my car or on a plane and go home when the event was over… I had to face them week after week… and we were on staff at the time! The response was more than encouraging! They started getting more real with me, more intimate in conversation, more trusting. It was a significant change in our women’s ministry.

    As for the lady that I thought liked to pry, we met and had the best conversation. I thought she would be judgmental (in my simple mind, isn’t that why people pry?) which is another reason I avoided her questions before this. As we chatted, I shared why I was so evasive and she shared that she just likes to get to know people. I discovered her motives were truly pure. She soon moved out of state but our friendship has flourished and continued, and every time she’s in town, we make it a point to meet, take pictures and grow in our friendship.

    I apologize for this mega answer, but it was a great question. 😅

    Reply
  5. kounselling says:
    May 27, 2024 at 4:02 am

    What a lovely thought ❤

    Reply

  6. Pingback: An Unexpected Friend – QuietMomentsWithGod

  7. Stacey says:
    May 28, 2024 at 4:00 pm

    Ha, yes! We’ve spent the last 15 years on opposite sides of the country, but I still consider her a dear friend!

    Reply

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