Mom Heart Moments #349

As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

YESTERDAY, I spent an hour on the phone with a cherished friend. She is so alone in carrying heavy burdens of life that when an unsuspecting stranger asked how she was, the tears began to flow. She is beloved by so many, and yet no one knows her burdens, helps her, or reaches out to her.

But I have to ask myself, How many people in my life have known the depth of my own soul battles? Too often I don’t want to burden my friends because they are all as busy and overwhelmed as I am.

We were made for friendship. Our hearts are prewired to be loved, to belong, to celebrate and share life together in community —to bear each other’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ.

That feeling in the dark of night that your life is invisible —Does anyone care? Does it matter that I keep dragging on day by day? Does anyone know the weariness of my soul? Do others swell with anger? Or wish for relief? Or feel a lack of worth? Or want to quit and don’t even know what that means?

So, at Christmastime, I call my friends together and we gather with food, drink, and a little reprieve from real life, to talk with and touch someone else who shares our world. We gather to listen to His words together. We gather to understand that our sacrifice is precious to the One who sacrificed all.

We gather to know we are not alone. We meet to find strength, love, laughter, understanding, and hope —the hope that keeps our feet on the path, our minds steadfast on our beliefs, our hearts willing to take another step of faith one more day, one more month, one more year, because once again, we know our life of giving and love poured out is changing the world.

Today, invite a friend, call a loved one, or take initiative to encourage someone else. Doing so will encourage you, too.