Unlikely Lifelong Friends

As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.

Proverbs 27:17 NLT

Kimberly and I met when we were both about 23 years old. We both worked in corporate communication for a large bank. 

She produced company videos while I managed print communication.

We didn’t start out as friends. In fact, I didn’t like her. 

Well, I really didn’t even know her. I just knew the company gave her a higher salary for the same level job as I had. At the same time, the company wouldn’t raise my salary, even though my boss told me I was underpaid. 

However, she didn’t know that.

She acted like I was her new best friend at work. And we did have a lot in common. I didn’t have the heart to tell her I didn’t like her. 

So, before I knew it, we were friends. When I left the company a few months later, I told Kimberly first. 

Over the years, we always kept in touch — though not always consistently. 

Fast forward more than two decades. 

I still live in Texas, but she now lives in Kentucky. And we haven’t seen each other in nearly 20 years. 

Yet we talk several times a week. 

Our common bond these days? Jesus.

At the time we met, I would never have dreamed Kimberly would be a lifelong friend or spiritual encourager. 

In the early days of our friendship, I hung out with the church crowd. She was more into the social, party crowd. We had fun together, but I would never have taken her advice.

Now? She’s an entirely different person. She found Jesus through her husband’s drug addiction and her special needs son. She has lived through some tough circumstances. Many would have become bitter. But she’s become better. 

I’m so thankful that God placed her in my life so many years ago. And I’m thankful that I didn’t allow jealousy to destroy a potential friendship. 

Lord, help me to see the value in the people you place in my life. Help me not to let sinful attitudes take over and destroy the good You bring into my life.

Stacy