5:32 p.m. Today's project is to bless our friends Bob and Debbie Snyder and Howard and Charlotte Stevens with a nice chicken and rice casserole dinner. It's classic comfort food, simple to prepare, and a huge hit whenever I serve it or take it to a potluck.
As I reflect on our friendship, I realize that it's even more of a treasure because Jesus Christ is at the center of it. Debbie has attended the summer Bible study since it began with Colossians five years ago, and has hosted it for the last three years. (Charlotte is pictured on the far left at our recent koinonia at Debbie's). Charlotte joined us in the second year. Both of their husbands have befriended Steve, whether it was Bob offering him a ride to church when I was out of town last year, or meeting us for dinner with Debbie and then viewing classic cars together. Howard and Charlotte have gotten to know Steve at church events, and Steve's friendship with Howard has deepened as they work together in the Stevens' orchard. A favorite verse of mine rings so true, Psalm 133:1: "Behold how good and how pleasant it is for the brethren to dwell together in unity!"
Steve's Alzheimer's would be very isolating for him as a nondriver, if it weren't for friends to pick him up and include him in "guy" activities, like the Calvary Chapel Men's conference, men's Bible study, and viewing classic cars. But what made these friends so special was their inviting Steve over for three or four hours during the two weeks I needed to write extensive new sections of my book, Walk in the Word Series: Galatians. Howard had lots of work in his orchard, and Bob invited Steve over to see a movie with him and Debbie. With Steve's brother incapacitated in Orange, my sister's family living in San Diego, and our kids all working, we are so grateful that the Lord has brought friends--couples friends--into our lives! Because Proverbs 27:10 is so true, as is all of God's Word: "Better is a neighbor who is near than a brother who is far off."
Tonight we enjoyed a huge, veggie-packed salad along with the casserole, with ice cream and chocolate-covered bacon for dessert. The six of us then played the crazy game "Imaginiff," which became just a tad stressful for Steve, even though he was enjoying it. He got fixated on ordering his cards every time, and then lost the funny point of the game. So he graciously decided to exit and just relaxed in the family room, let the dogs in, put out the garbage to the street, and then, after moving around, felt glad to re-join us as a spectator.
I'm proud of how Steve handled the game situation, because our family didn't really play many games because he would get angry, actually, at least before we discovered helpful ways to deal with his frustration, with counseling and medication. So even in the midstage of a devastating disease, Steve showed calm and good manners with our friends!
"My God is mighty to save!" goes the lyric from a favorite praise song. And I Samuel 14:6 says, "Nothing restrains the LORD from saving by many or by few." Amen!
In other words, God can use any means, method, or miracle to save, bless, comfort, anoint and help one of His beloved children. God loves my husband and gave him, and all of us, a wonderful problem-free evening.
And Howard has invited Steve to go over tomorrow to trim some more trees!!
We humbly thank you, Lord!
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