Although it has been quite awhile (over a year I am quite sure) since I have participated in the Tuesday meme ‘In Other Words’, when I read today’s quote I knew I had to write what has been on my heart these past few weeks.
The Christian life is a pilgrimage. At times the road is difficult and we get lonely. Sometimes we may get discouraged and consider abandoning the journey. It is at such times that God will place a friend alongside us. One of God’s most precious gifts to us is friends who encourage us and lovingly challenge us to ‘keep going’.”
Henry T. Blackaby and Richard Blackaby
Although I have much to be thankful for and I recognize and count my blessings daily, I must confess that I haven’t been in a ‘good’ place in quite awhile. I have allowed myself to become overwhelmed by negative and paralyzing thought patterns. In recent years I have been able to turn to my husband for encouragement and reassurance. Because of external family situations he has not been emotionally available in recent months. Even though my rational self understands the how, what, where, and why of this, my irrational self wants him to be there for me…exclusively. He is my friend. The one who encourages me to ‘keep going’ through the ’shadowed’ days. But he can’t be there for me right now and so I struggle with my demons, alone.
Or so I thought.
As I sat in my home office early this morning watching the birds search for food in a feeder that I have yet to refill, I noticed movement out of the corner of my eye. The windows were blurred with early morning condensation (we keep the temp at 65 degrees in the house because of Miss Sam’s eczema) and it was difficult to discern just what or who was moving through my backyard.
As I made my way outside, I realized it was a neighbor from a few houses down. She was taking me up on my offer of ‘help yourself to our oranges any time you feel like it’. Well, this morning of all mornings she decided she could use a fresh glass of orange juice made from the oranges from our tree.
Lucky me.
We sat for a moment in the backyard and caught up on her travels of the summer. She is a teacher also and has some time to call her own during the summer months. As we talked she asked how we were all holding up in regards to the current family situation. I don’t usually speak my heart and talk about complicated things but my hesitancy did not discourage her from reaching out to me. Not asking for details she just asked ‘can we pray?’.
And there in my backyard, in the midst of hungry chirping birds and the shade of an abundant orange tree, I found a friend who called upon another friend to walk beside us and encourage us to ‘keep going’.
She simply walked into my yard looking for oranges for breakfast and she gave me the precious gift of friendship and the reminder that we always have a friend in Jesus.
For more ‘In Other Words’ please visit Bonnie at Ink It Blog.
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16 Comments
My security word was “shop.” Now there is a friendly pursuit!
Loved your post about unexpected friendship and blessings. Thanks for sharing and returning to IOW… You are a gift.
Blessings.
(((Danielle))) Glad your neighbor reached out. Glad you were willing to accept it. Praying for you as you come out of this dark place.
Isn’t God good to know just what we need and to provide it in unexpected ways?
Thank you so much for joining us this week, and I hope you join us more often. I so appreicate your sharing your heart and about your neighbor friend. What a blessing.
Come back soon!
This was just what I needed to be reminded of today! Thank you for sharing from your heart! I have missed you my friend!
Blessings
okay, you must have read my mind b/c i was just going to come over here and ask you to have a lookie at my new site. thanks for the comments!
I think we met through IOW, didn’t we? lol it’s been so long, i can’t remember..
I totally understand about tyring it alone.. we know better.. and yet… there is something that holds us back..
Now, isn’t that just like God?!
Your post made me cry. How wonderful God is! So many times, He has done hte same thing for me. What other people would call coincidance running into an old friend in an unexpected way is just a gift from Him to ease our lonliness with human companionship, but also to remind us to look up! Thanks for sharing your blessing which blessed me as well.
Hi Danielle,
This is my first time to your awesome blog! I went and took a look at your photo’s, Oh my…
Thanks for joining in today and sharing this touching story. Isn’t it neat how God sent someone right to you when you needed it?
Sorry about the season you are in, I’ve been there too.
I pray God will cause your friendship with this woman to continue to grow.
Blessings to you?
That’s awsome! Fresh oranges and friendship!
That’s beautiful Danielle. What a friend
This touched my heart, thank you.
Danielle,
How awesome that God shows himself in our daily lives. Praying the fog lifts soon for you.
Thanks for this beautiful post Danielle. How good God is to bring someone along who wouldn’t need the details – she just recognized the need to pray.
Bless you!
Bonnie
I felt this was really a wonderful post -one that sometimes we may feel an offer of prayer is a good thing and yet, we may fear reaching out to another in that manner too. Such a good outreach there though on your neighbor’s part and also, that you were receptive to it as well. Peace.
That is an awesome awesome picture of what I think we are supposed to do for one another. I mean to drop everything and check in then invite Jesus into the midst….WOW! What a true blessing for you.
Hugs,
Susan