Friendship

My friend, Mary, asks for prayer for her 94 year old mom who fell and broke her hip.  This request for prayer, coming at a time when I am using a beautiful book from my dear longtime friend, Pat, as my morning quiet time reading, brings home to me the dual nature of friendship.  Friendship both gives and receives.  It's not just about having friends, it's about being a friend.  Mary prays regularly for me and I will pray both for Mary and her mom.  Thank you, Mary, for giving me the privilege of doing that for you and for the privilege of being your friend.
I have reaped the rewards of having good friends all my life, but never to the degree that I have experienced since my cancer diagnosis.  I won't even attempt to tell the many forms those rewards have taken, and it has been a great time of growth.
I have always enjoyed the giving part of friendship but have had some difficulty with the receiving end of it.  I have an observant cousin who has noticed a strong tendency in our genetic line to accept the "I'm not worthy" mindset.  Perhaps that's it, but whatever the reason, I realize now that I am not being a good friend when I consistently say, "No, thanks".
So this morning I'm not sure where I'm going with this, but I am sure that today I will concentrate on being a good friend.

"I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from My Father I have made known to you."-John 15:15 (NIV).

"He (Jesus) wants to be the best Friend you've ever had-sharing every moment of your life.  He wants to laugh with you, even through the slips and spills.  He wants to relax with you in your weariness, to commune with you on those issues that affect you most."-Wayne Jacobsen (In My Father's Vineyard).

"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass.  It's about learning to dance in the rain."-Vivian Greene

On the health front:
Still itchy.  Today is Doctor Day so I'll bring that up.  Other than waking up tired every day, it's a good morning!