You know when you wish you could stop time because you know something inevitable is lurking and you just don’t want it to happen?
I’m feeling that today.
This morning I’m meeting my friend Charmaine for our beloved Starbucks Grande No-Water-Oprah-Chai Latte one last time before she moves out of state. 🙁
My heart is dragging its feet…
Having met through mutual friends, I was Charmaine’s least likely candidate for friendship. I’m about the same age as her mother and in a completely different stage of life. Why the heck would she want to hang out with me?
But God is the Master of unlikely and when He brings people together, a bond occurs that trumps any reason why it shouldn’t work.
Our bonding was born out of a common interest in decorating, thrift-store treasure hunting and a love for Jesus.
(And let me tell you, anyone who thrills at the thought of rummaging through other people’s castaways is a friend of mine. 🙂 )
We met to talk for the first time at Starbucks. Little did we know that the Oprah Chai that we ordered would become our trademark. Charmaine wanted to pick my brain about home staging. What I thought would be a one-hour meeting turned into a half-day of conversation and showing her my stomping grounds for finding decor pieces. By the end of the day we were both hooked and she began helping me with my home staging business almost immediately after.
From the grunt work of heavy lifting up the endless stairs of mansion-type homes, to embellishing with beautiful finishing touches, she was with me every step of the way.
Literally lightening my load and sharing the joy of a job well done. Our eyes seemed to see things the same way and our rhythm for working together was completely in sync.
Somehow, even the longest work days pass more quickly when you share conversations with a friend who has a gorgeous South African accent and a contagious smile. Laughter has always come as easily for us as the deeper conversations that follow. Take that, age gap!
Everything that Charmaine touches turns into something lovely. It’s just who she is. Whether it’s furnishing the house of a friend who has nothing or counseling an engaged couple on the brink of the greatest commitment of their lives, she gives her entire heart when she gives her God-given gifts. How can anything or anyone be the same after that?
Sweet girl, thank you for leaving your beautiful fingerprints on my life. As you and your precious family head into this next adventure, my prayer is that God readies every soul that so needs your touch and friendship. They are waiting for you, friend, even though they don’t know it yet.
You will be missed on the daily, but as close as a text or a call. And if you want any help with that amazing new house of yours, I’m just a plane ticket away! 😉
Love you,
J
