Making Time to Make Friends

 Making Time to Make New Friends
Sometimes it isn’t the close bonding of a deep friendship that will arise, but doing little things for strangers that make a big difference. Things like talking to a cashier as I check out at a store. They slowly change from being a stranger to become an acquaintence, then to a friend who recognizes you, returns your smile, and is friendly in return. It becomes better if you remember something that they’ve shared with you about their family.
Sometimes it’s just doing something unexpected for someone who needs help. I am taller and when I see a shorter person, especially and older person, trying to reach a product from a higher shelf, I ask, “Can I get that for you?” Most times the person ssays, “Thank you, yes,” returned with a smile.
Recently a new family has been attending our church regularly. As most often, new people are cordially greeted by other members and welcomed to join us in our worship services Sunday morning, Sunday evening, and Wednesday evening in Prayer Service.
Slowly as they got used to my face, I began to talk with them, finding more about them, their occupations, their likes and dislikes, and family histories. I found out from one of the kids the name of a great grandfather. When they mentioned his name and his occupation, I remembered that we had information at the Chestnut Ridge Historical Society in Stahlstown, Pennsylvania.
Last Wednesday as I put in my hours of volunteer work, I took photographs of a book we had about their great grandfather, several other photos, and a rocking butter churn. I sent them to the family, hoping that they might be entices to visit the society’s show room.
This weekend we are having a young Ambassador Baptist College graduate visit our church in a “Meet and greet” session. Our church is searching for an assistant and youth pastor. The meet and greet is an event to allow him to see if he might be led to and interested in being a candidate for that position. A game night Saturday, then he will be able to give the sermon Sunday morning. It will allow the congregation to visit with him and if he is interested, it will allow him to candidate and for me to pssibly make a new friend.