THURSDAY THOUGHTS - Be That Kind Of Friend

Guest post...

What would life be like without the friends we meet along our life's path? Having been blessed with many close friends during my lifetime, I truly can not imagine my life without them. Last week I received a call from a dear friend I had over twenty six years ago. We simply lost track of each other. I wondered about her and how she was doing many times, but had no idea how to reach her. Thank heavens she took the time and effort to track me down and surprised me with a phone call this week. The joy it brought me was almost beyond words to describe. I then thought of the many friends who have added so much sweetness, love and support to my life and my heart was filled with gratitude. Dinah Maria Mulock penned a quote that reads like this:

"Oh, the comfort , the inexpressible comfort, of feeling safe with a person, having neither to weigh thoughts, nor measure words--but pouring them all right out--just as they are--chaff and grain together--certain that a faithful hand will take and sift them--keep what is worth keeping--and with the breath of kindness blow the rest away."

Thank heavens for such friends. They make the rough patches in our lives better and the good times that much sweeter. I think this is the principle which drives Lifting Hearts to reach out to so many of us. They have made many of us feel more loved, safer, and simply grateful for their love, support and encouragement.

Henry B. Eyring once said that if we treat everyone we meet as if they were experiencing a period of crisis in their lives, we would be right more that half of the time. That means there are opportunities all around for us to BE that kind of a friend for someone else. Heaven help us all to strive to be more aware of others who may need love, support, or even just a smile from us. I will be forever grateful that my old friend took the time to find me. We vowed to NEVER lose track again, and I promised myself to be more aware of opportunities to share love and support with others as I continue my life's journey.

Kathy Christensen
Survivor
Member of Lifting Hearts