When we honestly ask which persons in our lives mean the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving much advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a gentle and tender hand. The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not-knowing, not-curing, not-healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness… makes it clear that whatever happens in the external world, being present to each other is what really matters. – Henri J.M Nouwen.
Cheer-me-up pressies from my dear friends, Jess n’ Claire… (I had Mickey & Tweety at my door tonight!!!)
You totally made my day my beautiful friends! You, along with others who have emailed, SMS’d, called and prayed for me have made me feel loved in this yuk time of being in bed for way too long!!!
It’s always in times like these that I think about who my truest friends are… the ones that notice when I’m a bit “off” or just a bit sad… the ones that really care and not just ask if I’m okay… the ones that celebrate my wins and make them a bigger deal than they seem to be… the ones that put kindness before inconveniences.. these are the ones that just stand out head and shoulders above the rest!
It’s also during such a time that I think about how easy it is to allow apathy and busy-ness to rob us of compassion… how stress can cause us to treat each other rashly (I am guilty!)… and how ugly humanity can become when we become ROBOTS in the doing of life.
I am learning to be a better friend as I am surrounded by some of the most encouraging and selfless people I know in all the world!
I love you heaps my friends!!!
