Back in the old days, when our oldest kids were babies, my sister-in-law, Lynet, and I used to talk on the telephone for hours.  I don't remember how often. . . every few months, maybe?  I remember days when we would say, "I have a blow-out poopy diaper to change.  I'll call you back in a minute."  Or, "Let me go fix lunch, and I'll call back."  I think the first time I ever had Anna up past 8pm (SO first kid), I slid down the frige to the floor, toddler in lap, and she fell asleep while I chatted with Lynet. 

Fast-forward about a decade.  Lynet and my brother have 4 kids, ranging from late middle school to rising 1st grader.  Our brood is 12 yrs down to 3 yrs old.  It has been a tremendous blessing through the years to have her one step (18 months-ish) ahead of me.  The previous stage was always fresh enough in her mind for her to be truly sympathetic to the maternal trials of any given age.  We also celebrated the joys of the different stages, but she was a wonderful sounding board for frustrations.  This is not a coincidence.  She is a certified clinician and has an MSW (Masters, Social Work).  Yes, I probably owe her thousands for over a decade of therapy.

The long days home with babies and toddlers have given way to more activity filled days with older kids, and we talk on the phone much, much less often.  Today Lynet called, because we had planned a cousin spend-the-night-party for Friday.  We decided we should reschedule in light of the White house strep throat outbreak.  We started talking and talking. . . and talking.  She called me back after she had to answer the disposal repairman's phone call.  I called her back, after a neighbor dropped by with hand-me-down shoes (score!).  I took kids out of the bathtub with the phone pinned to my shoulder.  There is never a shortage of things to talk about.  We covered some of the dysfunctions of her family of origin, my family of origin, and both of our current family units.  Kids, spouses, siblings, parents, grandparents.  We are relationship people. ;)  And Lynet's friendship is a gift.

Separate thoughts on relationships and sanctification:  There's not a relationship on this planet that is untouched by sin.  We do even the right things for the wrong reasons.  Sometimes we aren't even aware of the motivations of our own hearts.  But I'll tell you one thing, the motivation of my heart is not always to glorify the God who created me.  We are messy, needy people.  Fortunately, God is in the business of redemption.  To Him be the glory.