English: Start of a long road (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
It’s official: the Smiths don’t live here anymore. They drove off into the nightwith Fat Lucy in the backseat, signaling the end of this chapter. Today is a sad day.
I’m talking about our neighbors; Fat Lucy is their cat. We bought our houses the same year and became fast friends. While this move is exciting for them, we, of course, are mourning the loss. No more will their house be a second home to our kids. They fed us, gave to us of their time and talents. They watched out for our kids while they played. They babysat, fed, and loved our kids. They let them pick flowers from their garden. They caught Titus (our beastly Great Dane) countless times he got outside without a leash. If we ever needed anything and they were able to help, the answer was always yes (even when I’m sure they didn’t want to). House sitting, pet sitting, helping with projects, and truly sharing life. In our eyes they were everything a neighbor could be. Every member of our familes are close. So many things in common, so many differences; yet somehow we all clicked. This seems like a rarity in this day and age of hiding behind privacy fences. We’ll miss their kids telling us, “You guys are the best family!” And our countless long talks of hilarity or depth about joys and sorrows, our kids, extended families, friends (and sometimes spouses :p). They are very gracious, genuine people. People who let you see their house (and their very lives) messy. There is a trust there…an understanding. They are people we can be completely real with who do not judge us. I value that so much, and it is a quality that seems scarce. How do you tell someone that? That they mean all these things and more which words cannot express? I hope you who may be reading this have someone like that in your lives. The street seems so different now. And time marches on.
Hopefully we’ll keep in touch. There’s e-mail, phone, Skype, planes, and cars to aid in that. Yet life happens, and sometimes things we hold dear get forgotten…foggy. As trivial as it might sound, we are grieving this loss. My prayer is not only for their safe adjustment, but also that we would stay connected. That perhaps we could sail together once again; let the kids have a sleepover again. May we travel together someday like we always talked about. May life be good to us all; not because we deserve it, but because God is so very good and abundant. And that they would be blessed. They are so giving, Lord please give to them; and please fill this hole with yourself and your love. I hope the roads of our lives continue to lead us in parallel, though separate, directions. Who knows, maybe they won’t be separate forever.
Have you had a close friend move away? Or perhaps you were the one who had to move? I’d love to read about it in the comments below. Thanks for reading.
“We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers.” 1Thessalonians 1:2
*”Smith” is not their real name but a generic one used for their privacy
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