Weekly Thought > Personal Growth > Value of Friendships
Select a Category:
Value of Friendships
Without friends my life would be a desert absent of trees for shade or springs for drink. I am so thankful that most of my friends have stayed with me through the years of my confinement. So often friends will pay strict attention during the first few weeks of illness, but then gradually drift back to their busy lives. Mine have stayed right with me with frequent visits, telephone calls, emails, articles, books, CDs and gifts.
One group of friends, led by Jack Dodge, sent a beautiful arrangement of flowers every Monday for nearly four years. Can you imagine 200 deliveries without fail? I call it the aroma of care. Another friend, Ron Glosser, retired CEO of Hershey Trust, has kept me seriously involved with the Guideposts organization. Jim Beckett, CEO of Beckett Publications, gives a birthday luncheon twice a year�just in case!
My friends are filling my needs rather than satisfying their need to show that they are nice people. One of my most attentive friends is Ed Yates who augments his visits with homemade pies and melons of the season. I am fortunate to have a personal theologian in Dr. Ramesh Richards. Then it is good to have Dick Dunham to come watch football and golf with me. Not only do I enjoy their contact but I can fill lonely hours with anticipation. They have been so loyal that I know I can count on them.
TEAM FRED is a group of friends who transport me to and from dialysis. One is Bill Glass who often will stay awhile and visit during dialysis. Another is Ron Kerley who not only helps with transport but reads scripture and prays with me weekly. My favorite closing when writing to friends is YTCO � yours to count on. Now, I have so many friends whom I can count on. These mentioned are only a few of the many for whom I am deeply grateful.
This week think about: 1) how can I be a better friend? 2) what resources do I have that would enhance another�s life? 3) what 3 specific actions can I take to encourage another?
