Soul Kitchen

Today I’m going to take the opportunity to tell you about a friend of mine. I will try to describe her to you and how she has influenced me. I share this with hopes and a desire that if God hasn’t already given you a friend like her, He would.

This friend is quite a bit older than me so she’s always known me. Since she was a friend of the family, I had opportunities to hear lots of stories about her, and I learned to know her through our visits. It wasn’t until I was 15 that we “clicked” and I really started to get to know her as my friend.

The first thing I have to say is that, I am incredibly blessed to know her! She knows who she is, and when she reads this, please know how much I love and appreciate you. I wouldn’t be who I am today, if it weren’t for you!

Now to describe her. She is the most pleasant, gracious, and humble person I have ever met. She’s also beautiful! She has this way of brightening up my day, no matter how dark it seems, even if it’s simply the thought of her. I often wonder what she would do if she were in my place and then try to do that. She’s just so sincere and… peaceful. That describes her. Like, she always does the right thing at the right time, and says things in the right way. I believe it’s because she’s so considerate and her heart is so full of mercy.

I love being with her because when I’m with her I’m inspired to be more like her. I ask her lots of questions and learn from her. She rubs off on me which is a good thing for everyone around me because she’s full of life, and the life she lives truly bears good deeds and good fruit. And how often have I benefited from her graciousness!? I don’t think I’ll ever fully comprehend how rich my life is because of her.

I wonder if you’ve met her. Since I know a lot of you, you might know her too. I pray so.

Proverbs 3
13 Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding,
14 for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold.
15She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her.
16 Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.
17Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
18She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called blessed.

James 3
13Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. 16For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. 17But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.

Proverbs 1
20 Wisdom calls aloud in the street, she raises her voice in the public squares;
21 at the head of the noisy streets she cries out, in the gateways of the city she makes her speech: 22 "How long will you simple ones love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge?
23 If you had responded to my rebuke, I would have poured out my heart to you and made my thoughts known to you.

My beautiful friend is Wisdom. She calls out to you to embrace her as your friend. She’s willing, more than that – eager - to share her heart with you and give you sound advice. I guess it’s a matter of letting her speak into your life and listening to what she thinks is best for you. And not just listening but following. I’m learning more and more to submit to her ideas when I have other thoughts or desires. I'm realizing that she only holds out what is best!