Lean On Me

Have you ever had a friend make a statement that you knew was true, but never really thought about? When you thought about it afterward, did it really strike you as interesting? I had that happen to me the other night. I had a friend mention that they have been a jerk to me many times, and for some reason I still haven't deserted them. The obvious response to me was . . . duh, you don't turn your back on your friends, you have to be patient with them. When I started to think about it I realized that that is a learned habit. Human nature is, when we've been "walked all over," to turn around and get out of that mess. So what makes us stay? Besides the fact that we need to learn patience and we need to learn to have real conversation where we discuss our feelings and issues...what makes us stay?

For this particular friend, I have stayed for one reason in particular. They really need a friend right now. Not that they don't have any other friends, but they need a really good friend. I do not know why, but God has blessed me with the ability to be a good listener. Seriously . . . I have people who only talk to me when they have a problem. At first, that really annoyed me. I mean, why can't you talk to me because you enjoy my conversation, not just because you want to whine to me? Then, I realized that it was some sort of gift. Having people confide in me is a blessing. It allows them to feel comforted, like they have someone they can trust. It allows me to talk to them and comfort them, to help them work things out, but more importantly, to take it to God for them. I have people I can pray for because they trust me with the intimate, scary, arduous details of their lives. That is a blessing!

So this friend...I knew I had to be there for them. They were stressed beyond belief and faced with difficult decisions that I knew I was not prepared to make (nor would I want to). So I talked to them. Was it difficult at times? Yes, of course. But I didn't stop, because I wanted them to know that they could depend on me. I wanted them to know that I was praying for them and that they could talk to me, I wasn't going anywhere.

I know at times it is difficult to be patient when someone "attacks" you personally. But really...what is the situation? Do you know what they are facing? Do you know what is going on in their life? How much do you think they could use your support and prayers? Sometimes the best thing you can do for anyone is just be available to talk. Sometimes people just need someone to talk them out of something, talk them into something, or talk them through something. It puts your life into perspective for you and can help you to appreciate what you have. Do you have it all that bad? How greatly has God blessed you? You can truly help someone through a simple conversation and a heartfelt prayer. God can use you and change you in miraculous ways if you are open to how He wants to use you to help and minister to others. It can seriously change your prayer life from what you want, to what others need...and isn't that what it's about?




"A friend loves at all times..."
Proverbs 17:17

"If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!"
Ecclesiastes 4:10

"A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense."
Proverbs 19:11

"The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride."
Ecclesiastes 7:8