February 8th

February 8th

Read: Proverbs 17:17; Proverbs 18:24; Proverbs 27:5-10; John 15:12-13

When my first husband died suddenly on our patio, I was immediately surrounded by friends: an elderly neighbor who heard my cries, a young neighbor who had seen the ambulance arrive and who pulled me to my feet away from Al’s body: our pastor who had been notified by a church friend who came on the ambulance call, a friend who had heard the emergency call on her scanner. When we had a flood which raised the lake level considerably in only four hours, it was a friend who helped me to take in our heavy dock and secure the boat.

Why so many friends so quickly? Well, I know that my Lord sent them along, but they were such willing servants of His. Perhaps it was because I had shown myself to be friendly to them, willing to help and to be helped.

There is humility on both sides of that coin. It requires humility to roll up our sleeves and spend our time and energy and even our resources to help another. It requires even more humility to accept help from another!

FRIENDS

God in His mercy has given us friends
To love and support us when it seems our world ends. 
They help and encourage and oft see us through.
When all seems quite hopeless, our faith they renew.

Friends bring in sunshine when we cannot smile.
Sometimes they scold us, but love all the while.
Friends want to give with no thought of return,
And it hurts them so much when their efforts we spurn.

We must let friends give, for that is our gift
To hearts that are loving and searching to lift.
The joy that comes into those hearts free to give
Can only be measured by the lives that they live.

Yes, God in His mercy has given all these:
Friends and their loving ways trying to please, 
Hearts that accept love and gifts with a smile, 
And joy in the knowledge that love meets each trial.

Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, You are the Friend of all Friends. Help me to be the sort of friend You showed us how to be.