Friends

Today I am thankful for good friends.

I was very anxious last night. I sent a few emails explaining different aspects of my anxiety to different friends, asking them for help. Not only did they give help, but the wise words they emailed were, in several cases, sent after midnight. That is the last time I can imagine people wanting to have to think and decipher what I am saying! That is when people want to be winding down or, better still, sleeping.

 My worries are rarely straightforward but, rather, involve many 'if's and 'but's. The patience these friends displayed in taking time to work out from my (in at least some cases) nearly incomprehensible ramble, what it was that was bothering me, is testimony to God's presence in them. Being my friend cannot be easy. I'm not being hard on myself there; it is definitely true. I worry too much and those close to me will inevitably get sucked into the stress. Last night certainly wasn't a one-off experience.

I am ashamed to say that I can think of a number of times where someone has confided in me and asked for reassurance over something and I have been less than helpful. I remember getting very irritable with a friend for asking me several times about an issue she was struggling with. It is so easy to send someone away, give empty words of reassurance or lose your temper with them. Almost too easy.

I pray that God would help me become more patient and willing to engage in other people's lives like they were my own, caring and loving them as myself. I also thank God for such patient, helpful, loving friends. The more I think about it, the more grateful I feel! Praise the Lord. I really am so fortunate.