Watch this:
But, if you've read the books, you'll find that there's more to their relationship than just witty lines.
I'm just about finished reading The Return of the King, but in The Two Towers Merry and Pippin get separated as Gandalf takes Pippin to Minas Tirith. Both Merry and Pippin feel the separation terribly. In almost every chapter Tolkien reminds us of their loneliness. Merry feels it less for a time because he still has Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli to talk and joke with, but when they leave for the Paths of the Dead, Tolkien writes this:
"'Goodbye!' Said Merry. He could find no more to say. He felt very small, and he was puzzled and depressed by all these gloomy words. More than ever he missed the unquenchable cheerfulness of Pippin."
They had been inseparable since the beginning of The Fellowship of the Ring, when we first met them. Now they weren't together, and something was off balance inside them.
When Merry and Pippin are reunited, they just continued as they were before. Best friends to the end.
I think that Merry and Pippin have one of the strongest friendships in literature. I believe that every close friendship should be like theirs.
*cough cough* That being said- why can't our friendship with God be like beloved Meriadoc Brandybuck and Peregrin Took's?
I know it's weird to think of ourselves as friends with God. But, Jesus even tells us "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's like for his friends. You are my friends" (John 15:13-14a). Our relationship with God doesn't have to be all deeply thought out prayers, confessions, and fasting (although that is a part of it). It can be fun and witty, just like Merry and Pippin's friendship.
There also comes times where we are separated. But, sometimes not consciously.
I've been reading The Skrewtape Letters by C.S. Lewis, and some of the things in there are really mind opening. Lewis suggests that one of the Evil One's tricks is not putting things into our thoughts, but keeping things out. Pushing aside the more holy things to make the temptations peep out of their boxes. This separates us from God. Sometimes, we know we are doing wrong, but other times, when we're resting, we let our minds wonder without even knowing and indulge in a different mindset- - that ultimately leaves us feeling unhappy, even lonely. And, believe it or not, God feels it too. He feels remorse and sadness when we go down a lonely path that hurts us.
The good thing is, when we come back to God, He forgives us and we can continue being friends just as before.
Being friends with Jesus has its outrageously fun moments too, just scroll down my blog and see all the crazy things we have been through together. He delights in the things that delight you- -my list can go on forever: chocolate, scarves, snow, books, crayons, buttons, wildflowers, strawberries, etc. . . - - wholesome things that actually make you smile! And, he delights in them even more when you acknowledge that He gave them to you.
Haha! I'm sorry if this post is a little scatterbrained, but I feel like sometimes people take God way too seriously. To be sure, it is a serious thing to be in a relationship with God, but I believe He wants us to enjoy walking with Him. We don't have to feel like it's always a sombre occasion when we pray, and we certainly don't have to use big ceremonious words when we are being serious with Him. Be yourself with Him. Merry and Pippin never had to be someone else to be accepted by the other. Why should we think we have to be someone else to be friends with God?
Be Bold. Be Blessed. Be Bodacious.
~Ana
loved everything about this!!
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