Some of my best Christmas gifts

This past Tuesday, a crisp, Colorado, December night, l drove through the snowy fields to our annual Prayer Sisters Christmas party. I pulled into the forested driveway and headed into my friend’s cozy house, fireplace blazing, ziti baking, and Christmas trees twinkling up a storm. But what I loved most was the enthusiastic embrace, the warm, authentic greetings from friends I’ve grown to love and appreciate more and more each passing year.

After dinner in the candlelit dining room, where conversations bounced around the table as quickly as the garlic bread basket, we clustered by the fireplace to share in our traditional gift exchange. We’ve tried to suspend this tradition more than once, believing our money would be better spent elsewhere, but the truth is, we simply enjoy giving each other gifts. It’s our way of expressing our gratitude and love for one another, comrades through the years’ ups and downs.

The gifts range from silly to spiritual, practical to just plain fun—like my new sparkly, hot pink-stemmed wine glass with a flirty redhead painted on one side and the words “Fired Up and Fabulous” on the other.  (Thanks, Karen!) This year I chose to give the serious gift, Stormie Omartian’s new book, The Power of Praying for Your Adult Children (Harvest House Publishers, 2009). Not necessarily the most fun gift, but my Prayer Sisters all agree an extremely valuable one.

It’s amazing, really, to think we’re now all praying for our grown children. When we first started praying together, most of us had middle schoolers and youngsters still romping around on the playground at elementary school. We’ve prayed through many challenges over the years. And not only for our kids. We’ve prayed for our marriages, jobs, financial situations, extended family issues. And for each other. I know, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that I am a stronger woman, a better wife and mother, because of the prayers of these, my diligent prayer partners.

And when I think about Christmas gifts, from shiny platters and beaded bracelets to inspirational ornaments and helpful books, I settle in on the most important gift we share as Prayer Sisters—the gift of friendship. The gift of having the kind of friends who love you when your attitude is ugly, when your life isn’t going as smoothly as you thought it would, and who don’t get tired of being around you when you’re sad. The kind of friends who cry with you, pray with you, and then say something silly or give you a gift that makes you laugh.

Yes, this Christmas I thank God for the invaluable gift of friendship.