September 18, 2003

What it Means to Be a Friend

[Wednesday night, 9/17/03]

There's nothing like an afternoon spent in an emergency room to bring things into perspective.

As usual, it started with a phone call, and ended with a hospital room. A friend was in trouble today and she turned to me for help. I had other things on my agenda for the afternoon, but suddenly those things didn't seem all that important.

Did I want to spend my day in an emergency room? No, but I went anyway. On the way to pick her up I prayed for her. I prayed that God would minister to her through me. I prayed He would give me the words to say and discernment to know when to speak and what questions to ask.

She told me I could leave once I dropped her off, but I knew I couldn't leave her. She was alone, and after all, I am her friend.

So while we waited and waited and waited some more, we talked. We talked about her trouble; we talked about her children; we talked about her (deceased) mother that she misses so terribly--especially on days like today. We even managed to laugh every now and then, in spite of the sadness surrounding her; in spite of the trouble that brought her there.

So what did I learn? It's not always easy to be a true friend, but it certainly is worth it. Did I help her today? Well, I certainly didn't "fix" her trouble, but I did what I could: I sat with her. I talked with her. I even laughed with her. I hugged her. And I let her cry.... And when I left tonight, she thanked me. I didn't do much of anything really, but it was all I could do and it was all she needed--just a friend willing to be there.

And at the end of a day like today I can honestly say: