The Friendship in Cancer

May 28

TODAY IS…

a good day to appreciate friendship.

“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.”  Proverbs 17:17 NASB

The bond between friends is sometimes stronger than the bond between family members, yet we often have difficulty expressing our feelings toward these stalwart individuals who seem to always be standing there, ready to pick us up when we fall.

Just think for a moment about those who will sit with us when we are heartbroken over the loss of a loved one; who will bring us food and make sure we eat it when we are confronted by tragedy; who will take time from their busy lives and their own familial obligations to help us through a particularly rough time in our lives – who are these people and whatever did we do to deserve their kindness, love, and loyalty?

They are our friends, and sometimes it is a lot less complicated than we tend to make it.

Friends are people who know that there is extra space in their hearts for deep feelings for special people; friends are people who know that they can always make room among their burdens to help you carry yours; friends are people who are aware that even with their busy schedules there is always time to listen to our cries for help.

Good friends do not judge us. They may get in our faces and tell us when we are about to make a mistake, but they will pick us up and dust us off when we go ahead anyway and then fall flat on our face.

Friendship is a demanding position that often does not pay well. Being a good friend is sometimes thankless but can also be among life’s most pleasant experiences.

Today is a good day to let our friends know how much we appreciate them.

Take time to say “thank you” to those who help carry your load when it is too heavy to carry alone.

*******

Taken from “TODAY IS….A Gift From God”, (C) 2013 Tony Casson

May 28, 2020

Again, I couldn’t post this devotion without including it in the “In Cancer” series. After all, friends are one of the blessings that emerge in force when cancer is diagnosed, and mine certainly are no exception.

Exceptional, yes.

“Whatever did we do to deserve their kindness, love, and loyalty?”

Indeed. What?

That’s the thing about friends that I never really understood. Our friends love us because of who we are. With our faults and failings, on bad days and good, through the thick and the thin spots of life.

The challenges of this pandemic inhibit, but do not eliminate, some of the actions friends would like to take, but they do not stop friends from offering to make food, to run errands, to help with medical appointments, and on and on. It doesn’t stop them from texting, and calling, and sending cards. It doesn’t prevent them from setting aside the complications of their own lives to help me with the complications of mine.

They care, they support, they love.

They pray.

Friends too numerous to mention, but I will mention some anyway: Deedee, Diane, Don, Cary, Scott, Sally, Richard, Jerry, Naomi, Marc, TaJuanna, Kathryn, Hector, Beth, Whitney, to name just a few.

And then there is Jesus. Oh, what a friend we have in Jesus!

For those who don’t want to hear Alan Jackson sing, or for those who want to sing along:

What a friend we have in Jesus
All our sins and griefs to bear
And what a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer

Oh, what peace we often forfeit
Oh, what needless pain we bear
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer

Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged
Take it to the Lord in prayer

Can we find a friend so faithful
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness
Take it to the Lord in prayer

What beautiful and encouraging words, but I do have an answer to the beginning of the last verse, “Can we find a friend so faithful, who will all our sorrows share?”

The answer is “Yes!”

See the list above.

I thank all of my friends, including many in my family who are my friends, my children especially.

And I thank God for all of you.

Each and every day.

About Tony Casson

" For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." (Jeremiah 29:11 NLT)
This entry was posted in "TODAY IS....A Gift From God", The Blessings In The Curse and tagged , , . Bookmark the permalink.

2 Responses to The Friendship in Cancer

  1. ladyd62 says:

    There you go making me cry again… and once again capturing life so beautifully.

    Liked by 1 person

  2. Tony Casson says:

    And once again, there you go giving me credit I do not deserve. But thanks. 🙂

    Like

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