A Friend Who Loves
I see my friend Dee once a year, but we have a special bond. The printing company where she works has printed many books for us over the years. It is located near one of the cities where Ray and I travel to conventions almost every year. We always share a meal with Dee, her husband, and other members of the staff and members of their families. We usually have family members with us, too, so it can be a pretty big group.
I have loved getting to know Dee at our yearly gatherings and through phone calls and emails. I have noticed so many admirable traits. She is compassionate and kind. She has a genuine concern for others.
I love surprising people. Dee is surprising. The last time we were together my pretty, petite friend, who is always tastefully dressed, told me about a competition she is training to do. I have forgotten the name of it, but if my memory serves me, it involves running, cycling, and rowing. Dee is obviously not afraid of a challenge, because when she decided to do this event, she had never rowed before.
Dee loves to serve. One of her service avenues is meeting and working with a group at her church that makes prayer shawls.
Dee loves animals. You never know what kind of four-legged companion she will have with her at work. The last time we stopped by, it was a squirrel. One day Dee sent me a picture she took while she was serving as skunksitter for another animal-loving friend! Dee told me that Keebler loved checking out her collection of our books that she had in her office.
This spring when I visited with Dee, she told me about a way she was able to combine service and her love for animals. When she learned that people working to save penguins after oil spills sometimes dress them in hand-knitted sweaters, Dee decided that she would like her “life list” to include knitting one penguin sweater. When her fellow knitters and crocheters at church found out, they decided to make some, too. Here is their contribution.
Dee and her husband live in a rural area with their only child Cody who is about twenty. Â Dee drives into the city to the printing company each day where she performs wonderful customer service for folks like us, while her husband runs his successful construction company which builds schools.
The company where Dee works cares about their customers. That attitude starts at the top with Mary, the president of the company. Dee’s mom is married to Mary’s dad. Faith in God and His Son are central to both of their lives and to many of their staff, too. I was so impressed when Mary and another employee came down to see us a few years ago. It meant a great deal to us for them to worship with us at our home.
Dee is currently meeting the most trying challenge of her life. Cody was in a serious accident over two weeks ago and has not yet come out of a coma. Would you pray for Cody, Dee, and her husband today? I appreciate it.Â
A friend loves at all times,
Proverbs 17:17