How do we let people know that we value their friendship? We can communicate on Facebook. We can send cards and letters. We can call and be called on the phone. We can meet them for meals. We can help them be aware of when something is happening in their lives that needs attention: high or low blood sugar, an introvert who needs to take some me-time, someone who is way too stressed. On "The Big Band Theory" Amy has a picture painted of her and Penny and has it framed. The problem is that it's 3' by 5'!
People need to know that we care, that we are there for them. For many months we may go by with little happening in either life, and then, BOOM we find ourselves needing one another. I have a lot of acquaintances, a few friends, and one I could call at 3am if my world is falling apart. She has also called me in the middle of the night. Why? Because we know that we are, and have been, really there for one another. We can tell each other things we dare not speak aloud to anyone else. We know the other won't judge us. They may nudge us in the direction of doing what we knew in our hearts we needed to do all along, but they don't laugh or name-call.
We sing "What a Friend we have in Jesus", and it is a comforting hymn. But in the grand scheme of friends and friendships, is that relationship a two-way street? Do we remember to talk/have conversations with Jesus, or do we just list off a bunch of things we need for him to do? Do we feel we can "call him up" in the middle of the night when things are falling apart, or even in the middle of the day when all seems to be well? How do we let him know this friendship is important to us?
Loving God, we appreciate that you are there for us, and we promise to be there for you. Help us to listen as well as speak when we pray, that the things you need us to do will be accomplished. Let us remember that you are always there for us, whether we are on the mountain top or way down in the valley. Our relationship with you is not one that needs to have a portrait to hang on the wall, but it does require conversation. Without that conversation our relationship withers and dies. Thank you for always nudging us to keep the lines of communication open.
People need to know that we care, that we are there for them. For many months we may go by with little happening in either life, and then, BOOM we find ourselves needing one another. I have a lot of acquaintances, a few friends, and one I could call at 3am if my world is falling apart. She has also called me in the middle of the night. Why? Because we know that we are, and have been, really there for one another. We can tell each other things we dare not speak aloud to anyone else. We know the other won't judge us. They may nudge us in the direction of doing what we knew in our hearts we needed to do all along, but they don't laugh or name-call.
We sing "What a Friend we have in Jesus", and it is a comforting hymn. But in the grand scheme of friends and friendships, is that relationship a two-way street? Do we remember to talk/have conversations with Jesus, or do we just list off a bunch of things we need for him to do? Do we feel we can "call him up" in the middle of the night when things are falling apart, or even in the middle of the day when all seems to be well? How do we let him know this friendship is important to us?
Loving God, we appreciate that you are there for us, and we promise to be there for you. Help us to listen as well as speak when we pray, that the things you need us to do will be accomplished. Let us remember that you are always there for us, whether we are on the mountain top or way down in the valley. Our relationship with you is not one that needs to have a portrait to hang on the wall, but it does require conversation. Without that conversation our relationship withers and dies. Thank you for always nudging us to keep the lines of communication open.
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