The word cultivate has been going through my head lately. I was pretty sure I knew what it meant, but decided to look it up anyway. Dictionary(dot)com lists the following: (bold emphasis is mine)
cul⋅ti⋅vate [kuhl-tuh-veyt]
–verb (used with object), -vat⋅ed, -vat⋅ing.
1.
to prepare and work on (land) in order to raise crops; till.
2. to use a cultivator on.
3.
to promote or improve the growth of (a plant, crop, etc.)
by labor and attention.4. to produce by culture: to cultivate a strain of bacteria.
5.
to develop or improve by education or training; train; refine.
6.
to promote the growth or development of (an art, science, etc.); foster.
7.
to devote oneself to (an art, science, etc.).
8.
to seek to promote or foster (friendship, love, etc.).9.
to seek the acquaintance or friendship of (a person).It seems to me that the definition lends itself to more use in relationships than in farming. It has been weighing on me for some time now, that because of the 'busyness of life' that I have allowed myself to become consumed with, I have let some friendships fall to the side hoping that the other person in the relationship would be ok w/ picking things up from where we had left off when I was not so busy. I mean I haven't even taken time to send emails anymore!!! (TSK! TSK! TSK!) This may have been the same way for them and for a time we (may) have been totally okay with this format; recently I've decided that's not how I want things to be. Don't get me wrong, I do understand that there are things that we all need to do; however I also know that in everyone of us we have a place inside where we have the need for friends or we will just go crazy. I don't always need to have hours upon hours devoted to one person, I'm not looking to become a stalker, but I do have the need to have an occasional lunch with a friend and chat or perhaps enjoy a :insert beverage of choice here: together.
This all may be the ramblings of a lonely stay at home mom; or it may be a nudge from God that this is something He wants to see me do. I just might reach out to a friend gone by and change their life. (Its the simple things, ya know?)
So my new goal is this: to acknowledge my friends. (HI!) Either by an email, a card, a phone call and if they don't answer, I will ACTUALLY LEAVE A VOICE MAIL! (gasp!)
~Til next time!
