Present or Presence?

 Have you ever had a present within a person's presence?  I have.  Just this past 10 days.

A friend of mine that I have known almost 40 years came to visit me in KC.  We had not seen each other since 2004 - 17 years ago! I was originally going to have knee surgery on July 8, and due to unexpected circumstances, the surgery is postponed to a later date this year or early next year.  But, despite the surgery date change, my friend, Candace decided to come to KC anyway.  What a gift for me!!!

We have not seen each other since 2004 when I went to Florida to see her after resigning from an excrutiating job where I was working 16-18-21 hour days.  Going to visit Candace back then was a much needed break and a complete place to rest after such long hours for two straight years!  I was so grateful to be done with that job - Whew!  And, Candace was the perfect hostess!!!

This time, it was my turn to host!  We gallavanted around KC, Parkville, and Weston, MO!  We had a blast going to the Plaza, Westport, the Nelson Atkins Art Museum, The Kauffman Gardens, The Church of the Resurrection, Black Dog coffee, KC Rivermarket, Planters Seed store, and the OP Farmer's Market (even though it was rained out!). We covered a lot of ground!

Plus, Candace and my new dog Tula got along famously!!!  It was so much fun to see the two of them together...boy!  Did they hit it off!!!  Tula kept looking at me all week, saying with her eyes:  "Can we keep her, Mom?  Can we???" (Ha! Ha!)

So, when a person hasn't seen a friend in such a long time, how often do they see and recognize the gift that was just given?  By God's grace, I have been blessed to see, receive and recognize the many, many gifts the Lord gave me this week through Candace....think about that!  

What present does a friend give you?  Here are just a few of the gifts I have been given this week:

Her time... her willingness to come visit despite the changes to your schedule.....her love...her ears to listen and share each of  our stories...her heart to offer compassion for what has been going on in our lives over the past 17 years...her companionship and company....her laughter....her smile.....her hugs.....and these are only to name a few!  

Candace is also a very good cook, so I was blessed to have several meals which she cooked from scratch ready to eat when I got home from work - Delicious!!!  Plus, she treated me to several meals out at places like Black Dog Coffee and the Mediterranean Restaurant ft the Rivermarket!!!

In giving me the gift of her time and energy, she gave me the gift of her presence as well.  Each day, I was able to unwrap a new gift.  First, we untied the ribbon on a elegantly decorated package with all the moments we shared "catching up."  Then, we carefully unwrapped the wrapping paper by sharing fun adventures and extraordinary "Holy Ground" moments when we visited the Church of the Resurrection in Leawood and Holy Trinity Historic Church in Weston.  We got to experience seeing the Documentary on the making of a 100 yard stained glass window of our Blessed Lord, Jesus, with His arms open and inviting us to come and give all our heavy laden burdens at His feet!!!  And, finally, we shared the actual gift inside of the package - Candace and her presence!!!  

We laughed, prayed, talked, played with the dog, took Tula for walks, shared meals and adventures to unique places like Pryde's in Westport, tasted wine together at Ladoga Ridge Winery in Smithville, and did a Whiskey tasting at the Celtic Ranch in Weston - what fun!!!

She was (and is) a gift.  Her presence calmed me down after a long day at work, lightened my load by cooking and cleaning while I was a work, and lifted my spirits to look at life through a new lens and a new perspective!  WOW!!!  

Candace truly brought me a gift that was priceless:  Friendship.  Love, Time. Attention.  Physical presents like a beautiful  new bracelet from the Nelson Art Museum, bread from Black Dog coffee, but most of all, I received the gift of a lifetime:  Her presence was my present!!! 

I am so very grateful for this time that we had together and hope it won't be another 17 years before we see each other again!  

Thank you, Candace!  And, thank you, Lord for such an incredible gift this week!!!  You amaze me, Lord!!!