Friends For The Journey

I am sitting beside an open window drinking my coffee early on Friday morning. Yesterday, I heard about another friend who’s wife just discovered that she has advanced cancer. This morning, Debbie was telling me about meeting with a friend of hers yesterday who has been going through chemo-therapy and who looked gaunt. Despite getting eight hours sleep last night, Debbie had trouble keeping her eyes open this morning and felt “tired.” I just encouraged her to go back to bed.

I can hear the birds singing this morning… they sound sad. There is a morning-dove in the distance singing its mournful melody. Before Deb went back to bed, I told her that it seemed extra quiet this morning…she said, “its good Friday.”

My thoughts go out to so many of our dear friends who are quietly fighting battles this morning – serious illness, discouragement, financial pressures. Plato said, “be kind to everyone you meet, for they are fighting a great battle.”

My thoughts go out to Rebecca, Betsy, Patti, Berverly, Linda and Carolyn. My friend Ricky’s grandfather. Today is Friday…but Sunday is coming. There is a hope that will not fail. There is hope on the other side of the grave. The sting of death has been removed, and death itself is already defeated. The kingdom of light and life is advancing and death, sickness and sorrow is in retreat. Thank you, Jesus of Nazareth, for making the choice to obey…to please your Father. Thank you for praying the greatest prayer of all: “not my will, but thy will be done.

Oh heavenly Father, thank you for the opportunity to suffer a little while with your Son. Thank you for the opportunity to choose between life and death, blessing or curse. Thank you for the opportunity to choose to please you, or to please ourselves: the opportunity to obey your commands or to obey our lusts. Lord, we choose to obey you, to trust you, to please you. We choose to bow down and worship you, and to fear and love only you. Gracious Father, give us your grace to wait, pray and watch quietly through the night darkness for the rising of the Son. We join Him in praying, “Not our will, oh God, but your will be done! Let your kingdom come, and let your will be done in our hearts, in our lives, in our families, even as it is done in heaven.” Help us Lord, this morning, to look past our present circumstances to your lovely face. Help us to fix our eyes and hearts on you. We pray in Jesus’ name, in accordance with His nature, character, and spirit, amen.