When life kicks you hard a couple of times in a row, you really find out who your friends are. Or at least how you want your friends to act. I have a tendency to be pretty inept when friends are going through difficult times. I’ll think about that person and their situation and feel so bad for them, that it seems there are no words I can say to make them feel better. And, indeed, there are times when the wounds are still raw enough that words aren’t going to do any sort of healing.
But what this experience is teaching me (and why I’m blogging it, because I tend to forget these things) is that it doesn’t so much matter what you say, but that you say something. After watching too many Seinfeld reruns, a cliche like, "I’m here for you," sounded laughable to me. But when you’re down in that pit, it’s exactly what you want to hear. That you aren’t alone in your misery.
Several years ago Mike Johnson did a sermon with a brilliant grass-cutting illustration (Life is Beautiful? Can’t remember for sure.) where he talked about how God uses us to reach out to people when they need Him the most. And while it sounds like another cliche to say that we are his hands and feet, I’m living that reality right now. So, my friends (and you know who you are), thank you. You have touched me deeply and I sincerely appreciate your support.
