"A friend loves at all times..." -Proverbs 17:17a

Judi, a dear, longtime friend since high school, called the other day. Her mom has been my "second mom" since I was a teenager, and, according to her "first" daughter, Momma Dee is not doing so well these days. Dee is still thinking with clarity, but her body has given out to a condition that has rendered her quadriplegic and totally dependent on medical personnel in the rest home she now occupies. With eyes that strain to read or watch the tiny TV mounted 15 feet from her bed, most of her hours are now spent looking out the window or napping away the day.

Needless to say, Judi is already grieving for her vibrant mother who knows that her life is fading and now yearns for her heavenly home. This loyal daughter will do everything to make her mom’s life as comfortable as possible, but the waiting and the wondering if there is a better way to care for her mom weighs heavily on my friend.

My "first" mom, my wonderful mother LaVerne, passed away only six months ago. In a recent e-mail to Judi, I shared, "It’s amazing that the Lord is walking us, one right after the other, through this heartbreaking season with our beloved mothers. I love you so much and want to be there for you in any way I can." Instantly, one of my favorite scriptures popped into my mind, and I shared it, hoping it would assure Judi that she is not alone in her time of heartbreak:

"Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble...A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer" (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10,12a).

Prayer: Dear Lord, help me to be a friend to others, lifting and strengthening them through word and deed. Thank you for those friends who have helped me through times of trouble, standing back-to-back with me, helping me to get through seasons of sorrow, showing me that I am not alone. Amen.

Devotion: Who have you walked with through a time of trial, supporting and encouraging them each step of the way? Who has helped you in your times of need?

* * *

Prayer:

* * *

Reflection:

"A friend loves at all times..."

-Proverbs 17:17a