Cookies! We all love cookies, don't we? I mean ... who COULDN'T like cookies!? Chocolate chip. Peanut Butter. M&M's. Oatmeal. Oreos! They are just GOOD!
Well, friends are a lot like cookies. Especially those I like to call my "Cookie Cutter Friends." Cookie Cutter Friends (CCF) are those friends whom God cut out specifically for YOU (me, in this case). (Sure, God uses them in other people's lives too ... not just mine ... but ya know.) ;) ... CCF are those friends that God planned out at the beginning of time. .... Okay. So God plans EVERYTHING out. He knew exactly which friends I would have and how amazing they would be. But ya know ... I think God "cuts out" special friends for us too. ......... I know He did for me! They each have a very specific shape ... ya know, like when you cut out cookies. Like at Christmas time! You've got your ginger bread men shape and your Christmas tree shape and your Santa shape and your ornament shape, ect., ect. :) God cuts out friends for us in different shapes too.
I have a few very special friends who take on the "encouragement shape." All of my friends make different "shapes" in my life, but the few I want to talk about in my 4-part series are my COOKIE CUTTER FRIENDS! :D
I wanna talk about Hannah Baker first ... because she was my FIRST CCF! She was the one who inspired the term!!!! She is one of the most encouraging people I know! .... Sometimes I marvel at how God put her in my life for such a time as this! God knew that I was gonna be on an emotional roller coaster for a while during this transition period of my life (COLLEGE! CHANGING RELATIONSHIPS! CHANGING LIFE PLANS!). And He made Hannah Baker to come alongside me and help me through it all in a way that NO ONE else can! (Now, don't get me wrong! Hannah has MANY talents and abilities! God didn't make her JUST for me. He made her for others too. ;) ... Okay, just making sure you know I'm not limiting this amazing woman!) ;) But anyways! Hannah Baker is amazing! One of my closest friends, and I've only known her for a couple of years. We've only been good friends since Higher Ground started ... I think. (Don't kill me, Hannah, if it's been longer .... but I think it's safe to say, that we didn't really know each other before HG started.) (Wow, I love side tracks!) Oh, man! ;) ... She is one of the first people I go to for help, love, advice, encouragement, and prayer. She is ALWAYS there when I need her!
Just last week, I called her up because I needed some encouragement. I was really down ... about one thing in particular. I called her, and she could tell right away that I was coming over for more than just some hang out time. I got there and almost immediately asked her if she could pray for me. So we sat down on the couch, like we always do when I come over for comfort. She sat and listened while I poured out my heart. She's one of those friends who genuinely hurts when her friends hurt, which is an amazing blessing in and of itself! After I got done with my pity party (ha ha!), she simply prayed for me. (She's a good prayer, by the way!) We talked a little more afterwards and then watched Alvin and the Chipmunks. ... It was just one of those CCF moments! One of my best and most cherished friends - there, when I needed her most! As she always is!
So do you have Cookie Cutter Friends in your life? Those people that you KNOW God put at your side for a purpose!? A GREAT purpose!? Yep! You need to thank God for them, and tell them how much you love them! .... I love you, Hannah Joy Baker!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment