Reaching Out in Friendship

I'm fortunate to have a close family.  And my mom is the best. She means the world to me and is more than just my mom. She’s a close friend and I treasure our relationship. 

She means a lot to her friends as well. She’s been in a bowling league for many years now and has met a lot of people she wouldn’t otherwise know. Click here to read about how she's reached out and helped improve some people's quality of life.

Dinner Out Every Week

I’d finally gotten out of the hospital after four months.  I’d come home but was very limited in what I could do.  Walking with a walker and quite slowly at that, it was discouraging, even as I improved each week.  Unable to drive, I was cooped up in the house, other than doctors’ appointments and physical and occupational therapy. 

One of my friends recognized my need and asked if she could take me out for dinner one night.  "Sure!" I said.  I'd get out of the house and spend time with a friend.  What an opportunity.

Today's the second Monday of the month, so I'm posting on Small Acts of Kindness.  I'd love it if you'd pop on over and read the rest of the story.

Thoughts on Mothers' Day

Since we celebrate Mothers’ Day this weekend, I wanted to share with you all what my mom means to me.

I’m blessed to be able to call my mom my friend, and a close friend at that.  We continually think of and pray for each other.  Several times a week we’ll talk on the phone “just because.”  We don’t need a reason—we just like each other!  So much so that we take two days a week to get together. 

She comes over for an hour or two on Mondays so we can visit and talk about what’s going on.  Or about nothing.  Friends are comfortable with each other that way. About three days later, I head to their house and we play games and share dinner together.  I look forward to it each week. I’m not a poet but I do like to express myself in writing so I wrote a small poem for my mom about 25 years ago and I thought I’d share it with you today.

 

My feelings for you, Mom, are hard to express

Just thinking about it, I really am blessed.

You've taught me so much as I've grown through the years

To dare to strive higher, and persevere.

 

Nothing is ever too big or too small

You've taught me "I can" if I give it my all.

Success isn't all that you've taught me to find

But happiness too and a true peace of mind.

 

Each time that I've needed you, you have been there

To listen, to comfort, to show that you care.

Thank you for sticking with me to the end

Thank you for being a very good friend.

 

For all of you mothers out there, know that your kids (whether children or grown) love and appreciate you.  You sacrifice more than we can imagine and it’s hard for some of us to know how to express how we feel.  But we appreciate you. 

 

 

 

 

 

The Importance of Friendship

In today's society independence is highly valued. So much so that needing or wanting someone to walk alongside you can be seen as a negative thing. I disagree with this mindset. We were never made to walk through life alone. (I Cor. 12).  It's critical we have friends in our lives.

 

               

 

  

                   "Friends"              

 

A friend is a person who will always care

A friend is a person with whom you can share

True friends can be honest about how they feel.

True friends can be open with each other, Real.

A friend always listens to what's going on

A friend will encourage when the road looks long.

Sometimes through a hug, sometimes just a smile,

Friends will help you out when you face life's trials. 

Friends share a lot of things, both good and bad

The joys and the sorrows, the happy and sad

Life's sometimes joyful, sometimes full of pain.

But friends stick together, despite any strain.

The thing about friends is that they always try

To see the other side and understand why.

That's why the bond between friends is so strong;

They love each other; the friendship goes on.