With a Little Help From My Friends

I filled in for a local pastor this morning. It was in a town 45 minutes away from my home. It was the first time I had preached for a different church than my own. I was nervous but a friend offered to come watch me. I don’t know if she realized how much that helped to have a friendly face in the congregation. To know it was important to her to come some ways away just to support me. I have other friends who supported me, One helped edit my sermon. Many offered prayers. I feel very blessed.

It hasn’t always been this way. Many years I lacked true friendship. There were people who cared, they just didn’t know how to show it. And there were years I couldn’t escape my mental illness to BE a friend. It’s very hard to have friends when you can’t be one.

I have a message for those who lack support. DON’T GIVE UP. Sometimes it feels like you’re drowning. No one is coming to save you. You’re just floundering, pushed under the waves. That NEED for connection that becomes an itch you can’t scratch. The loneliness locking you in a prison of your mind unable to get out. But, if you’re lucky, a switch occurs. Maybe someone gives you a smile or better yet, a hug. Maybe someone offers to pray for you and actually does it. Maybe someone asks earnestly, “How ARE you?”

Maybe, at some point, you can respond. When someone smiles, you smile back. When hug is offered you hug back.You pray for womeone else. You ask, “How are you?” and listen and respond to the answer. You peek your head out of your shell and see that the world isn’t as scary as you feared.

I’m grateful for my friends. They pray for me and love me. They want to spend time with me. If you’ve always had friends you may not realize what a big deal this is. I’m not alone and I can FEEL it. After all these years and all the prayers. I feel loved.

Photo by Melissa Askew on Unsplash