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Since it was a few days after Christmas and Sarah and Ruth had the day off, we chose to meet for lunch at Food Dance in downtown Kalamazoo. The restaurant, which opened over 20 years ago has been known for sourcing ingredients locally long before it was a popular trend in dining. A favorite meeting spot and eatery, on any given day you will find business people, visitors to the area, families and friends at Food Dance.
In addition to food prepared for on site dining, Food Dance offers an array of fresh meats, cheeses, desserts and deli items for take out. This makes it a popular stop for folks who live or work downtown and want a quick, yet fresh dinner to take home to the family. A selection of wines and even gift items round out the offering.
Calling ahead was a good idea as the restaurant was already bustling on a Tuesday shortly before noon. Although reservations are not guaranteed for parties of 5, the heads up to the hostess allowed us to be seated right away. With the exception of Anna who is still in sunny Florida, all girlfriends were able to make it to town!
With so much goodness on the menu and lots of catching up to do, it took a while to place our lunch orders.
Eventually we settled on a variety of dishes from salads to soups and grilled cheese sandwiches to burgers.
In case you have just stumbled upon this blog, we have been meeting pretty much monthly for nearly three years! It's amazing how close we have become as we hear each others concerns, joys and sorrows!
When we are not together, we often reach out to one another with prayer requests, praises and comfort via text messages, email or phone calls. We lift each other up and in doing so, we are growing our faith, friendships and ability to set our worries aside, knowing God is in control.
I recently heard someone say "Why would I want to sit with people who do not know me and tell them every detail of my life?"
This broke my heart. How else do we get to know one another? How do we build relationships and get past loneliness and isolation if not through sharing our histories, current realities and future dreams? If not by lifting each other up in prayer?
As the Bible notes in Acts 2:42 - "They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer."
This is the faith, life and fellowship God has planned for us. To embrace our Christian friends and grow in Christ together. To welcome new believers, fence-sitters and those still walking in darkness, into our lives. To grow together in the love of our Father in Heaven who is beckoning to us with open arms.
This is the blessing we continue to receive as Girlfriends Breaking Bread.
May your friendships - old and new - bring you closer to God in this new year,
Miriam
