A Word For A Friend

So you’ve got the idea that today is my birthday and later on I’ll share some more about that.  For the time being, I want to put on the record how grateful I am for the friends that have helped me in this my 33rd year of existence.

Unlike many years in the past, the source of great friendship this year has been even more unexpected.  As ever in the Christian pathway where you expect the friendship is not where it comes from and where God shows you is most surprising, unorthodox and tremendously fulfilling and worthwhile.

Back in November 2009 I had no idea I’d be working in Wigan.  At the time I didn’t know that one of the good friends that would be a source of great blessing would come from of all places – Sheffield.  Can anything good come from Sheffield?  Apparently so!

Good friends, what can we say about them?  One of the hallmarks of a good friend is there persistent presence in good times and bad.  Their ability to share in those situations and have the sensitivity to behave appropriately makes me feel comfortable and able to be vulnerable and assured.

Rob Simmonite was such a friend over the course of my 33rd year particularly from March onwards when we first got to know each other.  Sharing similar challenges of a young family it was a pleasure to share quality time with him to discover bits and pieces of what made him who he was and also to share some of my own issues.  There’s something liberating about being able to do that and be encouraged by what the other is saying as well as inputting positively in them as well.

As with most of the key friendships in my life there is the crucial issue of a sense of humour and I’ll reflect back on our time together as one filled with laughter.  Rob is a funny guy and is quick to offer a good one-liner or observation.

So over time we established a firm friendship and to seal the deal, he visited the family home back in Little Hulton with his good lady wife Debs.  Often when I’ve left a location either a job or a home the friendships more or less end there.  It is a statement on the relationship that things continued swimmingly in terms of regular contact and rolling on with the same life enquiries and gags.  For that I’ve also got to be grateful to the free text deals you can get which has made my ability to contact people that much better!

I got arguably the best birthday gift early when Rob and I planned to link up down here in Bletchley.  As it happened another point of common ground was the football on which both he and I could talk with great authority for a number of hours.  As I mentioned young Mr. Simmonite comes from Sheffield and so naturally he supports Sheffield Wednesday.  (He’s hardly going to be a Blunt is he?)  So with MK Dons being in the same division as The Owls we’d agreed to link up for the match which happened to take place the day before me birthday – good planning or what?

So yesterday I was treated to the presence of my good friend and his family.  Drydens love the Simmonites and we got to see the new addition in the flesh for the first time.  Their daughter Eleanor is a beauty which she obviously takes from her Mum’s side.  (Ha! Take that Mr. Simmonite.)  There was much fun and laughter on the ‘short’ walk from my home to the stadium and the match itself was just brilliant.

It’s the second time I’ve been to watch the Owls this season as Rob was kind enough to let me watch their first league game this season at Hillsborough.  I maintained my 100% record of seeing Wednesday wins.  On this occasion the Owls gave themselves a bit of a challenge at first in going 0-1 down.  Unlike the first game I was now posted with the away support and it was brilliant.  Those Owls fans were excellent and there were characters that provided much hilarity.  Hearing the chants was good and getting the vibe of people who want to see their team do well gave me the impression of a true unity of people.  (Waddaya mean I’m having a go at the church?  Not at all!  Why do I mention it then?  Errr …)

The whole day was enjoyable and seeing the Owls go from 0-1 down to 4-1 winners with arguably the chant of the day (One – nil and you ‘messed’ it up with another word being used somewhere in this chant) was a great contribution to that.  Having Rob and his family with us though was the key and with the girls adoring and beating him up as well as Eleanor and our youngest getting on so well and then Debs and Authrine carrying on as women do, well that was just dandy.

I’m grateful for good friends like that and that;s where it’s no longer a case of them being friends – they become members of the family.  For that and the ongoing relationship this is a word of thanks to my friend, Rob Simmonite.

For His Name’s Sake

Shalom

dmcd