Abby's Best Friend

Two weekends ago I was visiting my sweet family in Temple. I was struck at how God linked a moment with my little niece Abby to what God spoke from Beth Moore on Psalm 62 just the week before. Beth had challenged us after she read the power-packed pep talk from David-- "What if we read Psalm 62 everyday?" It really hit me-- verses so concise and bold. Beth spoke about the freedom we have to lay it all out before the Lord and "pour out our hearts to him" like no one else on this earth. I am convinced He has ears like no one else on this earth--and a incomparable shoulder to cry on. And then I was talkin' to Abby in the kitchen on Valentine's weekend. I know--- it's proven again that God can teach us "from the mouth of babes." Abby is my 6-year-old niece, but everyone thinks she's my daughter. She has dark features like me, and every time she can't walk out of the house without her jewelry or gets goosebumps when she shows off a new outfit, her mom and dad look at each other and ask "How did this happen?" But no, she's not mine. We are close, though, so it was not strange that we had a little talk by the fridge over some lunchmeat and cheese.

So I said to my little brunette twin... "Abby...who's your closest friend right now?" She paused. She twirled around a little bit-- I could tell she wanted to give me a real answer. Then she began processing her thoughts out loud.

"Well, there's Tella." (Stella--is her friend, but she calls her Tella--I knew what she meant :). "But I would have to teach Tella about BFF.....and......hmmmm."

Cute. I hadn't heard BFF used in a few years. Well, at least by someone in the appropriate age range. I mean, my dad and Danny Dahlquist use BFF for each other, but it's different coming from a 6-yr old girl.

She continued. "And Ariel....she knows about BFF. I wouldn't have to teach her that we have a baby in the house, that i have a new baby cousin named Hunter....So, I guess Ariel is my closest friend."

I asked, "So, what do you mean you don't have to teach her?"

"Ariel already knows everything about me. She knows about Hunter, she knows about BFF. We talk. She knows. I tell her things. We talk everyday after 'cool.' " Abby answered matter-of-factly and happily.

So, there you have it. She knew her best friend by what the friend knew--by who she had taken the time to tell about her life--and who listened. The information Ariel held was a treasure to Abby, and she trusts her with it. She trusts that Ariel took special interest in the things Abby shared and that Ariel remembered it. Abby knew she wouldn't have to "teach her" about those important things over and over again.

God has as sense of humor (if you didn't know). Abby's mom's favorite Disney character is Ariel.

Ok, and yes, she's my favorite too, but, we don't have time to list the similarities between my niece and me.

"Trust in Him at all times, o people;

Pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge." Psalm 62:8

Pour it out. He knows.

Love, C