Pretty Pebbles

Friendship can be one of the most wonderful things in this race we call life.  When you are blessed with a truly good one, or many if you are especially fortunate, you realize quickly and often painfully the harshness of those that are, shall we say, not always the brightest spots in our universe.

Friendships are also a two-way street.  You can’t truly expect to dish, dish, dish and dish some more and not have any flack or fall out.  But often, as I am discovering these are the types of friends that I like to call “Pebbles”.  Why Pebbles?  Because much like those microscopic seemingly insignificant pebbles that somehow find their way into your shoes, they don’t always grate, they don’t always hurt and you don’t always notice them; until it happens.  >BLAMMO<  The tiny Pebble pokes you right in a tender spot and you are hurt. 

I’m not going to pretend that I am the end all, be all as a friend.  Shoot, far from it!  I am about as selfish, self-serving and opinionated as they come.  I have not always been a good friend and as sad as it is to admit, I know I’m going to fall flat on my face many times in the future as far as that goes.  I’m just prayerful that my friends will love me in spite of myself.  It is the true friend that will love you, warts, runner’s BO and all.

So where am I going with this?  I have a friend that tends to be on the rougher side in word and action.  I’m not saying this Pebble is a bad person.  Not in the least, but this Pebble is starting to poke and prod and my sock isn’t exactly buffering my aching foot (heart) from the rub.  I’ve watched, prayed and gently tried to redirect but the poke of the Pebble is still there and it is staring to hurt.  Am I just being too sensitive?  While part of me would like to take off the shoe and shake that Pebble right out and run off in the other direction, I am not sure that is what I need to do. 

Today on Facebook Joyce Meyer had a wonderful quote that was both timely and to the point in this Pebble issue.  I will share it with you here:  Your faith is not to help you avoid problems but to go through problems with stability.  Perhaps I need to shore up my faith a bit and be more of a rock to my Pebble of a friend.  Maybe I need to not focus so much on the PEBBLE but the ROCK.  I’m not going to just lay myself out there, wide open and keep fingers and toes crossed my Pebble will not flay me alive.  I am going to guard myself a little more closely but also remember to be in prayer for my Pebble.  I think as with all of us, Pebble has her demons and her cross to bear.  A step back, a deep breath and a more cautious stance may be just what the Doctor ordered. 

Pebbles once smoothed out can turn into something very beautiful.  Maybe this one just needs some prayerful and loving “smoothing”.  I’m not sure I’m the one for the task but you never know.  

Do you have Pebbles in your life?

My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior--from violent men you save me. ~ 2 Samuel 22:3