Sweet Friendships: A God-Given Blessing
As Thanksgiving approaches, I find myself deeply reflecting on the incredible blessing of my friends—especially over the past three years. Three years ago, my life was interrupted in a way I never saw coming. Well, maybe I did see it coming, but accepting the reality of it was a different story. I fought hard to stop it from becoming real. But despite my efforts, I couldn’t change it, and the pieces fell where they fell.
Proverbs 17:17 says, “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” And 1 Corinthians 13:7 tells us that “love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.”
I want to focus on that part of Proverbs 17:17—“a brother is born for adversity”—and 1 Corinthians 13:7—“love endures through every circumstance.”
When my life was upended, my friends surrounded me with love like a massive force. Their love endured with me through my toughest moments. As I sit here now, tears streaming down my face, I cannot help but remember the incredible love they showed me. My friends allowed God’s love to flow through them to me in the most beautiful ways—calls, air hugs, air kisses, handwritten letters, warm embraces, and countless moments just spent sitting together in silence.
One memory that stands out is when my friend Nay, on a whim, agreed to fly to New York for the weekend. It was the anniversary of when my life was interrupted, and I wanted to turn painful memories into joyful ones. We met in New York, ate great food, saw a Broadway show, toured the Empire State Building, and even got to be in the audience of The View. That weekend was such a gift, and I’ll always be grateful for her willingness to help me make new memories and support me in such a meaningful way.
Another memory is of my beautiful friend Keia, an amazing physician who cares for babies in need of kidney treatment. In addition to being a dedicated doctor, she is also a wife and mom with a busy life of her own. Before my life changed, Keia and I would catch up once a year, and those catch-ups were always something I looked forward to. After everything shifted for me, Keia made it a priority to call me every two to three weeks—even if it was just for five minutes—to hear my voice, remind me she loved me, and pray for me.
My therapist once shared that in his 40 years of counseling, he had never seen such unwavering support for someone going through what I was facing.
I give all the glory to God. Lord, thank you.
There were some friends I expected to be there during this pivotal time, but sadly, they withered away. But as the scriptures say, “A brother is born for adversity,” and “love endures through every circumstance.” Some friends simply aren’t able to stand with you, and others choose not to. But today, I’m especially grateful for those who were able and who chose to walk alongside me.
To my dear friends, I do not take your love and care for me during such a crucial season of my life for granted. I’m forever thankful, and I love you all deeply. Your support has kept me going.
To all of you reading this, I pray that the Lord will show His love for you through the friends in your life—both in good times and bad. And I encourage you to be the kind of friend you want in return. Choose “give-give” relationships—where giving and supporting one another is mutual.
I’ll close with Proverbs 27:9 (Passion Translation): “Sweet friendships refresh the soul and awaken our hearts with joy. Good friends are like the anointing oil that yields the fragrant incense of God’s presence.”
To God be the Glory, Forever and Ever. Amen.