LifeSavers: Friends Who Put Together Rather Than Pick Apart
I don’t get out much mostly because I don’t see a reason to. I have a warm home filled with the people I love, a kitchen to cook in, a soft bed to sleep in, a chair to read in, dogs that love me and cats to pet. There isn’t much outside of my little world that I have need for in my life.
But earlier this week, I had lunch with some friends. We talked. Small talk mostly: our kids, latest happenings in their lives, the safe stuff. The every day stuff. The stuff you’d expect from moms catching up.
And then, walking to our cars, in the last few minutes, the conversation suddenly went deeper, to our struggles. As if the realness of it was too tender to be able to casually toss out over a table in a restaurant.
One person mentioned a struggle, another voiced complete understanding and empathy (not to be confused with sympathy), and before you know it we all stood there, nodding our heads, realizing the bond of commonality we all shared beneath the surface of grace and kindness that we keep at the forefront out of compassion for others.
“I’m so glad I’m not alone” was said in more than one voice.
And you know how I knew I was in the company of good people? No one asked for details. When we each shared a summary of a problem no one leaned in with a gleam in their eye and asked for the low down because they weren’t seeking fodder for gossip.
Instead, there was nodding and compassion and support and the understanding that there were deeper waters than we realized. That we were here, divinely placed, to hold one another’s hand and help each other cross those waters.
We are a broken people. We are utterly broken in so many ways and as time progresses our world just seeks more ways to dismantle us.
So many people sit and dine on the brokenness of others like carrion birds, picking at the bones with an insatiable appetite.
Still others come along, look at the pieces, pause and say “Hey, wait a minute. I can help you put this back together. This isn’t nearly as bad as it seems, let’s see what we can do.” and proceed to assemble the pieces of the puzzle, helping to reveal the beauty in our lives that was harder to see until the pieces were put together
We can’t fix the world. But we can pay careful attention to whose hand we reach for when our lives are scattered. The pieces are meant to be put back together – and God sends us puzzle solvers – and equips us to be them – if we just pay attention.
Ointments and perfume encourage the heart; in a similar way, a friend’s advice is sweet to the soul. ~Proverbs 27:9
As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend. ~Proverbs 27:17
Walk with the wise and become wise. ~Proverbs 13:20
Read more Lifesavers below:
Most Folks Say They Want To Be Happy, But…
Have you ever woke up with a sense of dread?
You confuse people, and that’s not a bad thing
What decision will you make today?
Sometimes castles look like mobile homes
Thank you for your post. I enjoyed it! I drank it in…..every drop of love, compassion, understanding, and grace. Blessings to you~
Thank you so much Karen, I am so glad you enjoyed the post and may God bless you abundantly!!
What a beautiful post. I have many friends who share this deep kindness and compassion and for that I am a deeply blessed. I strive each and every day to be of some sort of encouragement or a symbol of love for all I come in contact with. Yes, we are broken, but we are not defeated and by the grace of God we are given gems such as this to store in our hearts. Thank you for your kindness and open sharing….
Love the blog post. What version is the scripture you posted, Provider 27:9?
There is a GREAT tool that I think you’d enjoy at Biblehub.com. You can enter any verse and it will show you an entire page of that verse in all of the different translations. I’m not married to one particular translation due to the “adding to and taking away” that has taken place over the years, so I’ve gotten in the habit (along with my husband, who loves to study Scripture with me) of searching multiple translations and going back to earlier translations in order to get all of the meat off the bones so to speak. Here is a link to that Biblehub page for that verse you mentioned, just so you can see how cool it is. It looks like that translation is ISV http://biblehub.com/proverbs/27-9.htm
I appreciate this Lifesaver post, Christie. A fan of many years, I have come to your (virtual) table, so to speak, for more than recipes lately and have been well fed with love. Thank you for your generous spirit.
thank you so much, Karen! I’m so grateful to have you here. Are you in my Front Porch Fellowship group on Facebook as well? We do daily Bible reading in there and it’s wonderful.
I’m southern born, bred and buttered! A lover of all things Jesus Christ and Tea! The day I discovered Christy Jordan and Southern Plate was the day another beautiful facet was added to my life. She just plain ROCKS!!
Susie
In reading the comments on the zesty bread seasoning from a year ago I saw a comment from Karen. She said after brushing the bread with butter and sprinkling on the seasoning you put the bread in a 150-200 degree oven overnight. Is this correct? I have eaten at the Rose Garden Tea Room and loved the “toasties” and would love to make them. So is that post by Karen the way to make them? Thanks!
This really resonated with me! Your heart just shines through your posts. It is so true -there are so many people who pick over the scraps of us and very few who will help put us back together. I am so grateful I have friends like that! Thank you!
Dina
Thank you so much Dina, I am so glad you enjoyed the post. Yes, those of us lucky enough to have friends like that are blessed indeed!