Jenny Randolph: The Proverbs 18 Woman
- Emily Reed
- Mar 7, 2019
- 8 min read
“One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin,
but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”
Proverbs 18:24
I have a friend who sticks closer than a sister. She’s the one who doesn’t run when my emotions are out of control. When I can’t stop the tears from coming- over dumb things, over real things, over heavy things. She’s the one who’s there when those tears turn to laughter; the kind where you can’t stop to take a breath. She is the friend who comes into my house during a chaotic time and just starts helping. Doesn’t ask what needs to be done- just does it. She understands, and when she doesn’t, she listens calmly and tells me that everything I’m feeling is valid. She is not scared of the mom hormones that rage inside of me. She steps in and comforts no matter what. I’m crying while I’m writing this (like super ugly crying), because I have never had a friend who loves me like Jenny does.
I don’t remember the exact moment we met. It was at Lipscomb, in the bitter cold of January- the beginning of indoor track. I was a freshman in college who had just joined the team and didn’t know anything. She was a Junior who didn’t care about that and befriended me anyway. There was a peace and joy about her that was unlike anyone I had ever met. I remember praying to God (true story) that she would be my friend. God was gracious to me, because here we are 10 years later, the best of friends.
When I was a sophomore, she lived across the hall and one door down from me. I was constantly going to her room to hang out and chat. Looking back, I was for sure bothering her at the times she just wanted to be alone. How do I know this? I went to her room every single day. Some nights I would even drag my mattress into her room and sleep in between her and her roommate's beds. I was always welcome and I always had the freedom to be myself.
Many of the cross country and track girls would go to Jenny for advice, to laugh, to cry, or to just be. She would listen to our problems (sometimes silly and sometimes painful) and speak truth to us with a gentleness I cannot comprehend. Sometimes Jenny and I would sit in the hallway and talk about all the things- running, friends, boys (well only one boy, shoutout to BENTON- LOVE YOU), family, etc. When I wanted to feel safe and heard, I hung out with Jenny. Countless others did the same.
That same year, Jenny was a senior and about to graduate. We (all the underclassmen) were SUPER worried about this, because she was the one who helped us understand the peculiar words, actions, emails, etc. of our coach. But just when we thought we were going to lose her forever, she became a graduate assistant for the cross country/track program, which guaranteed us two more years of her presence. WE WERE SAVED.
While she was a GA (graduate assistant) I remember how she always seemed available. I now know that she was SO BUSY. She worked a ton but still made time for people AND Jesus. That is what I remember most about Jenny in this season. She loved God with her entire heart, soul, and mind. I know this because her words and actions were a clear reflection of the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). Jenny’s love for God and others was (and still is) astounding and I can confidently say that I know God better because of her.
When I graduated from college, Jenny signed on for two more years as a GA to get another Master’s degree. Yes, you read it right- Jenny is V smart and has TWO Master’s degrees. It was at this time that I remember becoming really good friends. When Benton and I got engaged, she was the one who showed up first and celebrated with us. She was also there at practice the next morning when we had to run 12 (or maybe 16?) x 600 meter reps with hardly any recovery at Vaughn’s Gap in the rain (UGH). Jenny consistently showed up (and continues to show up) for me in the most joy-filled AND most challenging parts of my life.
When Hattie was born last April, Jenny came to the hospital the day after for a visit. It was, of course, at the time I needed her most. My poor husband was exhausted (I know, I know, I had the baby, but he was also awake the whole time so give him a break) and I COULD NOT WAKE HIM UP. Seriously. The man was in another dimension.
Here’s what happened: Jenny came to visit while Benton was taking a nap on the couch. I was holding Hattie and about to pass her off to Jenny when I smelled a smell that would become more familiar to me in the next few weeks. It was Hattie’s first poop. Also- she was screaming. As quickly as I could (think just had a baby YESTERDAY pace), I walked to the bassinet to change her. During the entirety of my short, but long walk, I called Benton’s name- gently at first, then louder and more persistent. After I set Hattie down (STILL SCREAMING), I waddled over to Benton and begin shaking him, YES SHAKING HIM PEOPLE. He did not stir.
But there was Jenny, helping me awkwardly wipe and console and figure out this whole diaper changing business. We managed to get Hattie clean, calm, and resting in Jenny’s arms. She sat on the chair by the couch, cuddling our baby girl close. Benton woke up a few minutes later and Jenny mentioned to him that Hattie had her first poopy diaper. In his delirium, he asked, “Who had a poopy diaper?” It was then, that we burst out laughing. BELLY LAUGHING. So hard, tears streamed from my eyes and no words could leave my mouth. What a memory. What a day. Of course, I thought, Jenny would be the one to help me change my daughter’s first poop.
Another time, four weeks later, I was alone with Hattie, and had been for a few days. Benton was at a track meet in Florida, and I was having a hard time on my own. Hattie would not stop crying, and I could not figure out why (Hi, new mom here!). While I was working on getting Hattie down for a nap, Jenny came by and dropped something off for me. She knocked on the door and then called me to let me know she was there, but I was too busy with a crying baby to hear or notice.
After a while, I gave up on the nap and came back into our living room only to realize that Jenny had come by to see us. I was so sad that I had missed her. I needed another adult human. AND NOW. So I called her crying- one of those sputtering kinds of cries where you can’t get any words out. I’m positive she was almost home, but she came back.
When she came in, she asked what was wrong and I probably just pointed to Hattie. This. This BABY (If you’re a parent you know what’s up. If you’re not a parent, one day you will know what’s up). So, we packed Hattie up in the stroller and walked and walked and walked. And FINALLY she fell asleep. Once again, Jenny was there for me. She knew I needed her, and even though it was probably inconvenient, she showed up.
It’s been about 9-10 months since those stories and in those months, Jenny has: helped give Hattie a bath, bottle, and new diaper multiple times. She understands that it’s hard for me to get out sometimes, so she comes to our house often to play with Hattie and catch up with me. We have continued to belly laugh over the most ridiculous things, and if you don’t have a friend who you belly laugh with at least once a week, I recommend getting one fast.
Jenny, thank you for showing me what unconditional love looks like and for giving me a glimpse of the way God loves me. Thank you for believing in me as a mama, and for constantly telling me that I’m doing a good job. I love you friend. I’m thankful for you always. A LOT of people think the same.
HAPPY 30th BDAY!
30 Things I Love About Jenny:
She loves God and will point me back to Him in every situation.
She is an excellent listener and I always feel heard when I talk to her.
She is loyal and will show up when you need her. No questions asked.
She is kind and compassionate.
Her ability to see both sides of a story is incredible and helps me understand others better.
She loves Hattie like she’s her own.
She shoots me straight and doesn’t beat around the bush.
She is not afraid to say no.
She is also willing to say yes even when she wants to say no. (because she knows it will mean a lot to me)
She is strong, because she knows her strength comes from the Lord.
She loves Taqueria del Sol and Harry Potter as much as I do (10/10 for both of these all day every day)
When the water gets shut off at the dog park in the winter, she brings a 5 gallon water jug so all the dogs can have water (literally people at the dog park call her the good samaritan- I can’t make this stuff up you guys).
She loves yard work (which I despise, so you can imagine my immense gratitude when she picked up ALL the leaves on our back porch in December).
When I was 38 weeks pregnant, she made me walk up that huge hill mountain off of Belmont Blvd after we ate at Chago’s and LAUGHED at me the entire time (these are the things that build character, my friends), which made me almost laugh Hattie right out.
She’s the kind of friend I can sit in silence with and it not be awkward.
When she coached high school cross country this year, she rode her Razor Scooter to and from practice with complete confidence. I’m pretty positive she made Razor Scooters cool again just because SHE rode one.
She sees the good in everyone.
When she does something, she does it fully and to the best of her ability (example: she rode her bike from Nashville to Knoxville. In the rain. Yep.)
She loves to learn- remember the TWO Master’s degree? Also- she knows how to fix toilets and refrigerators.
20. She is humble and not afraid to admit when she is wrong.
21. She has a killer handshake and has taught others how to give a proper handshake for years.
22. She helped coach a runner (who she recruited) to Division I Track Nationals AND the OLYMPIC TRIALS. Jenny is an incredible coach.
23. She always most of the time goes along with my crazy and extravagant plans.
24. She introduced me to Publix salmon and dessert hummus.
25. As a teacher, she is in charge of 6 classes, with 30-35 students in EACH CLASS. She works hard every day so that those kids know and understand biology. It’s pretty amazing, and I don’t know how she does it.
26. She never says no to going on a hike with me- we’ve gone for miles and miles- talking sometimes and being quiet at other times.
27. One time she called me at 7am on her way to school to ask about how Hattie’s doctor appointment went the day before. This one act of remembering that Hattie had an appointment and that I was worried about it made me feel so loved.
28. She is on the leadership team as an administrator at BSF Bible Study. This is a big commitment because she meets Saturday mornings to help the other administrators and then attends the Bible study on Monday nights. She is trustworthy and shows up because she understands the importance of being in the Word with a community of women.
29. Her laugh is contagious, and is one of the ways she makes people feel so loved (she will laugh at your jokes even when they really aren’t that funny).
30. She is a friend to everyone, and truly thinks of others before herself.
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