Day 22–The Gift of Friendship by Way of East Asia
I hope that Day 21 inspired you and encouraged you to armor up and join the battle against our enemy, Satan. I read a plaque one time that said:
” Be the kind of woman who when your feet hit the floor each morning the Devil says, “Oh crap, she’s up!”
Love it!!! Let’s be on offense against our foe. He won’t know what hit him!
In our time together , I have talked about the sovereignty of the Master Dot-Connector. Our God is in the business of orchestrating everything for our good and His purposes. As I have shared, God is actively involved in connecting the dots in our relationships with others.
One of the sweetest dot-connections He has orchestrated is with my friend, Joyce. Would you believe our friendship started in East Asia, of all places?
In 2002, our church partnered with Southeastern Seminary for a mission trip to East Asia. This trip had many layers of which were working in a Deaf orphanage and some medical expertise. Ron and I both prayed about it and felt strongly that I was supposed to go. My roommate was, Joyce Gerardi. She is actually Dr. Joyce Gerardi, a veterinarian.
Over the three weeks in East Asia we got to know each other very well and hit it off. We really bonded over stomach bugs, being followed by the police, remote village visits by bus, weird food, Dove Bars, tuk-tuk rides, elephant rides, sharing the gospel, and coffee. I even assisted her in a couple of animal surgeries.
The mission trip was so impactful in both of our lives. But, the greatest treasure that came out of that trip was a life long friend, sister, and ministry partner. Joyce became part of our family over the next 3 years. She learned Sign Language to be able to communicate with Ryan. Landon adored her. Both boys call her Aunt Joyce. Well, until she reached an age milestone, then Ryan started affectionately calling her Grandma Joyce. That boy…
When God called us back to Florida (that story to come in the days ahead), Joyce helped us move. I was heartbroken when she left Florida. But, we talked every week on the phone. God was doing a work that neither of us quite understood at the time. He was orchestrating a reunion in ministry that was quite profound in the not to distance future.
- Read Ruth Chapter 1
What happened to Ruth and Orpah’s husbands? Who is their mother-in-law?
What instruction did Naomi give to Ruth and Orpah?
“But Ruth said, ‘do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. Where you die, I will die, and there be buried. Thus may the Lord do to me, and worse, if anything but death parts you and me.” Ruth 1:16-17
I can only imagine the deep friendship, love, and care Ruth and Naomi shared. Ruth had lost her husband and Naomi lost her sons and her husband. They were both hurting but clung to each other. Even in her grief, Naomi was willing to sacrifice her own needs for those of her daughters-in-law and release them back to their mothers’ home.
As you can see in the verses above, Ruth was having no part of leaving Naomi. She vowed her loyalty and care to her beloved mother-in-law til death. I have to believe that theirs was a relationship that goes beyond the norm. They were friends…the best of friends with an agape love for one another.
How sweet it is that The Lord sends those kind of precious friends into our lives. For the last 15 years, Joyce has been my prayer partner, burden bearer, and faith encourager. I thank God for her everyday! Being a pastor’s wife can be very lonely. Being vulnerable is difficult and loyal friends that you can depend on and confide in are rare. So, when The Lord sends you that kind of friend…you hold onto them with everything you have.
Pray for and over the friendships in your life. Spur one another on to good works, cry together over heart breaks, and rejoice over victories.
I love you, Joyce! I am praying for you, my friend!
