Faithful Friends: The Ones Who Get It

 

I Meant to Call You Back… But Life.

Have you ever had one of those moments where your phone rings, and you swear you're going to answer it—but it's buried under a pile of who-knows-what on the table? By the time you find it, it's too late. Missed call. Voicemail. You think, "I'll check it later." Spoiler: you don't.

Or you finally type out that perfect text—funny, thoughtful, heartfelt—and then someone yells, "Mommmm! There's something weird in the toilet!" And boom. That message sits in your drafts for three days.

Yeah… me too.

Sometimes I wonder if God ever sleeps, because this mama sure doesn't. Between chasing my little tornado, trying to make healthy choices (hi, sleep!), and remembering to thaw the chicken, I forget things. Important things. Like returning calls. Or replying to that friend I really do care about.

But here's what I'm learning: real friends get it. The kind of people who don't need constant texts to know you love them. The ones who see your silence and don't take it personally because they know you're in the thick of it.

So if you're reading this and thinking, "Same, girl. SAME."—you're not alone. Life's messy. But grace is real. And sometimes the best we can do is just keep showing up—half-tired, slightly sticky, and fully loved.

So, I'm grateful God blesses me with such kind friends who give grace and understanding. Everyone is walking in different seasons, and genuine care to be there when needed, no matter how far apart you may be or how busy your life is. Embrace the journey, cherish the connections, and find comfort in knowing that real friendship transcends the noise of everyday life. You don't have to explain yourself or apologize when you haven't talked in a while. They just know. They know you care about a lot of things—and that you're dealing with all kinds of stuff at once. And they still like you. They choose to be your friend, even when things are quiet or crazy, even when it's been ages since you last talked. They get what you mean even when you don't send a text. To them, it's not about perfect timing, it's about trusting each other.

We're trying to meet deadlines at work while also planning dinner, driving kids to soccer, and hoping we remember to buy milk, all while volunteering and wondering if we've paid the bills. Our days are a blur, and somewhere in the middle of it all, our phones are buzzing with messages we really do want to answer when we have a second to breathe. God knows what's going on. He sees us collapsing into bed, exhausted from doing our best for our families, jobs, and communities. He gets that if we're quiet, it's not because we don't care, but because we're trying to do a million things at once. Good Friends Get It. Thank goodness for friends who get it. The ones who aren't offended when you don't text back right away. The ones who don't think you're a bad friend because you missed their call while you were helping with homework or dealing with some crisis at work. These friends are a comfort when life gets hectic. These are the friends who understand that sometimes friendship is months of not talking much, and then just picking up where you left off. They know you care about them, even if you don't reply right away or talk all the time. These friends are a gift—people who see what's in your heart, even when your schedule is nuts.

When Life Gets in the Way, Good friendships don't need a lot of work to stay strong. But you do need to talk sometimes. Think about those friendships where you can go weeks without seeing each other, and when you finally do, it's like no time has passed. That's what God's love is like—always there, patient, and understanding. Real friends get that when you're trying to balance work, kids, family, and everything else, something has to give. Real friends don't want to be another thing stressing you out. Real friends are understanding and don't judge. They're the kind of friends who'll send a quick Hey, no need to reply—just thinking of you. The ones who don't care how often you talk, but how much you care. You might only catch up every few months, but the love is still there. They understand that life has different times—sometimes you can talk for hours, and other times you just need to give each other space. And when things are quiet, they don't worry about you. They know you still care.

I think God made us to be friends, but He also gave us the sense to know when things are busy. Sometimes we need to focus on our families, jobs, or ourselves. Real friends understand and stick with us. God doesn't love us less when we're too busy to spend time with Him. Real friends don't love us less when life pulls us in different directions. They trust that we still care, even when we don't talk much. The friendships where you don't have to constantly prove you care are the best. These friends know you.

They know what you're like. They know you might forget to reply to their message, but you'd be there for them if they needed you. These friendships are like God's love for us—not because we're perfect, but because of something more profound. Like God's love, true friendships aren't ruined by missed calls and late replies. 

Having friends like these brings a sense of safety and warmth. Let's take a moment to appreciate the good ones. In an age where everyone is constantly connected online, it's essential to recognize those friends who genuinely get us. They don't stress if you take a while to reply, and they aren't focused on who initiated the last hangout. These friendships are invaluable treasures that deserve our appreciation. They are the friends who truly matter. They love you as you are, they know you're not perfect, and they never make you feel bad for being yourself. They love you for you, not for what you do. That's the kind of love that makes you feel truly seen and accepted. Rest in Grace.

Maybe you feel bad about that friend you haven't called in forever, or that text you never answered, or that invite you had to turn down. Take a breath. God knows how you feel, and your real friends do too. The friendships that are meant to last will get through busy times. The friends who genuinely care about you won't doubt your friendship when life gets crazy. They'll be ready to hang out when you can, appreciating any time you can spend together. In a world that often wants perfect friendships, it's a gift to have friends who are understanding. These friendships are like God's love—always there, never judging, and always understanding. Hold onto friends who really get you. They're treasures and show us God's unconditional love. These friendships remind us of God's patient love—always there, never demanding, and always understanding. Those friends who get it? Keep them close. They're treasures and the kind of friends God uses to show us what real love looks like.