Amanda Cox
About ten years ago, I was going through a strange season. Life had roughed me up a little bit, and my natural tendency has always been to withdraw in painful moments. But God did a sweet thing during that time and nudged me to reach out instead of turn inward. And one person came instantly to mind when I considered who I should reach out to for friendship.
This past co-worker and I had been in-home counselors, so that meant that we spent a lot of solitary time on the road traveling to different clients. We only saw each other in passing. But there was something about her that had stuck with me even though we’d both moved on to other jobs. When I thought of her, the mental picture I had was of her smiling face being backlit by sunshine. She truly was a light in my workplace through her demeanor. Just by the few conversations we had, I knew she loved others and loved Jesus.
Surprising myself, I reached out to her to go to coffee. And we did. And ten years later, multiple moves, major life changes for both of us, and we are still friends. Sometimes because of our differences in life and schedule, weeks or months may go by before we see each other face-to-face, but it is always as though no time as passed at all. And I always come away refreshed.
Challenged. Enriched. I hope she feels the same.
There is a particularly special friendship in The Edge of Belonging between Ivy and her childhood friend Reese. But life and circumstances have put some distance between them. Ivy regrets pushing him away, in part because Reese has been a voice of reason when she has felt uncertain or wrapped up in her emotions. She knows some of her current trials are a direct result of pushing him away. Ivy has been bruised up by life, and as a good friend does, Reese isn’t afraid to remind her of who she is at the core of who God created her to be.
I hope you enjoy reading about her attempts to mend things with the boy next door. There is something particularly special when you have a lifelong friend who knows you and all the versions of yourself that you become as you’ve grown over the years.
If you have a friend like that, call them up today and let them know what they mean to you. Or maybe you’ve lost touch. Set up a lunch date and reconnect. True friends who draw us closer to Jesus and the person He created us to be, are a precious gift.
In the words of C.S. Lewis, “A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words.”
About the Author
Amanda Cox is a blogger and a curriculum developer for a national nonprofit youth leadership organization, but her first love is communicating through story. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Bible and theology and a master’s degree in professional counseling. Her studies and her interactions with hurting families over a decade have allowed her to create multidimensional characters that connect emotionally with readers. #theedgeofbelonging
Amanda Cox, Poignant stories of hope, healing, and home
In The Edge of Belonging, there’s a journal featured in the story. It’s something that Ivy’s grandmother left that is filled with stories about her homeland. For a chance to win a lovely journal, subscribe to Shelia’s blog at the top of the page. She’ll announce the winner on Saturday, September 12, 2020 on Facebook. Good luck!
A lovely reminder of true friendship that should be cherished.