Thursday, January 27, 2011

Bless a friend

This week I was blessed by a friend.  Blessed because while grieving a loss she suffered less than 12 hours before she reached out to me, who was having a bad day (week really).  She went beyond her feelings and remembered my hurts.  This friend spent over an hour on the phone with me helping me sort feelings out, sort anger out.  She gave me a revelation about something I am struggling with (that I'm not ready to air publicly) that made me stop my blubbering and praise God in the storm.  Mind you, compared to the loss she was mourning at that very moment my storm was merely a drizzly mist but she took the time to share an umbrella.  She cried with me too, which meant the world to me.  She didn't belittle me or poopoo my feelings, she spoke truth in love.

I used to be a decent friend.  I used to write thank you notes and get birthday cards out on time.  Now I mail my parents Christmas present on January 27 (yes today!) and I stink at being a friend.  Taking my cue from some of the people who surround me now, I want to strive to be a better friend.  May I encourage you this week to pick up a pen, paper, envelope and stamp and write a friend a letter (no emails people).  Tell them thank you, that you love them, what they mean to you, anything you want.  Just.get.it .in.the.mail.  I have several notes I want to write, but my first one goes to the friend above.  I don't even think she reads this blog :) but she deserves a note of gratitude for standing with me.

Now GO and do likewise! (leave me a comment when it hits the mailbox)

9 comments:

mary grace said...

I am a stinky friend. Lots of stuff I THINK to do, but very little that gets done. Not for lack of love ...

Traci said...

MG yes this. I often say my path is all paved with good intentions! I am making it a goal to change that aspect of me.

Mom4Boys said...

This brought years to my eyes, Traci. Thank for sharing your heart. I often feel like a loser friend. I have good intentions, but my follow through is lacking. Sandy F.

Traci said...

Sandy I am the same way, hence the just one letter at a time.
I do believe we have seasons of friendship as well.

Sarah said...

I'm with Mary Grace. I often have great intentions, but they don't get past the first stage of thinking about them.

Traci said...

Sarah~So I hear a common theme. Take one of those good intention ( a letter to a friend) and put some legs and love on it and just do it. It doesn't have to be fancy or well written with proper grammar :) Just do it and pop it in the mail. Then pat your self on the back for following through with an intention. :) I'm off to write my note right now.

WellWoman said...

Thank you Tracy, for speaking truth to me today.

BETHANY said...

Excellent post! There's always room for improvement in being a friend. :)

Unknown said...

What a wonderful friend you have!
I pray you find the healing your soul is needing, Traci, whatever your hurt!

I have been blessed to have known such wonderful women who have loved me well. I hope I have returned the favor. Nothing says loving like something in the mail! Thanks for the reminder!