My Inbox of Daily Inspirations: Daily Heartlight -- May 4, 2009

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May 4, 2009

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=========================== TODAY'S ARTICLE ==========================

A Gift from a Friend, by Kelly Breece

Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn (Romans
12:15 TNIV).

A dear friend, James, taught me a life affirming lesson a few days ago
-- and I am grateful for his lesson and the opportunity it gave me to
connect with a dear friend.

The lesson happened when a mutual friend of ours, named Karen, lost the
love of her life, suddenly. Being a highly respected and prominent
figure in our city, his passing would undoubtedly draw a huge crowd for
the family visitation in his honor.

Even though I was almost consumed with thoughts of Karen, her daughter,
and their sadness, I felt a sense of insignificance in anything that I
could ever do to bring comfort to them. After all, it had been several
years since our paths had crossed. We probably wouldn't even know what
to say to each other.

I prayed for their broken hearts. I prayed that God would comfort them,
but as I thought more and more about the droves of notable and
distinguished people who would surely come to the visitation, I talked
myself out of going. I didn't think I had any words that could possibly
help her, although I so wished I did. So I went about the day, quietly
thinking of my friend.

Around 2:00 that afternoon, my phone rang, and it was James. He asked
if I was going to the visitation; he asked me as if he already knew the
answer was "yes." After all, we had been corresponding by email about
the sadness we both felt for Karen. After a long pause, my excuses
started to flow. I couldn't believe my own ears, quite frankly.

James, being the understanding person that he is, quietly said, "Well,
if it works out for you to go, just call me back and I'll meet you
there."

His gentle, non-judgmental words lingered after I hung up the phone. I
decided to quickly rearrange the afternoon, threw on a basic black
outfit, and called James back. "I can be there in 30 minutes," I told
him.

There is always room for one more familiar face.

We stood in a long line, and my palms started to sweat as we got
closer. What will I say? What could I say that hasn't already been
said? I'm just another person for whom Karen, who's already exhausted,
will have to muster up some sweet response for the generic, hopefully
politically correct, sympathetic phrase that I will probably give.

She softly smiled to a few ladies ahead of us. She shook hands with men
she'd never met. Then the line cleared, and there we were, face to
face.

She stopped. She took a deep breath. Silently she reached out her hands
for James and me. And softly, she said, "Give me just a minute." And
she began to cry.

I felt my own tears well up as I slipped into that brief, but precious,
moment. I saw tears in James' eyes, too. For a few seconds, no one said
a word. All the years that had passed just fell away as we stood there,
holding the hand of our friend. In that quiet moment, my heart
overflowed with gratefulness for the friendships that we're all blessed
with in this life. I felt a deep gratefulness to James for reminding me
just how incredibly essential those friendships are to living our
lives, no matter how many years may separate us.

The most important thing I learned that day was that when a person is
hurting, there is always room for one more familiar face. Even if we
don't have the right "words," a familiar voice is often enough to
comfort a friend in a deep moment of pain. And that same familiar voice
is often enough to help comfort them in a lot of the moments that lie
ahead of them.

I hope to never again doubt that God has a plan and a way of using us
when someone who is close to us is hurting. Thank you, James.

---------
(c) 2009 Kelly Breece <KellyBreece@aol.com>. From the Morning Cup
<http://morning-cup.blogspot.com> Devotional, a weekly devotional
for Christian women.

This article can be found on the web at:
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200905/20090504_friend.html

=========================== FEATURED PRODUCT =========================

TWELVE ORDINARY MEN, by John MacArthur
If Christ can accomplish His purposes through the lives of common men
like these, imagine what He has in store for you.
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Daily Heartlight -- May 4, 2009