Thank you for sending your Son to help me carry my cross; I am nothing without you!
In Jesus' name. Amen.
I've written a few blogs on the subject of friendships and I think I write on this topic as much as I do because amicability between folks is highly important to me.
When I become friends with someone, it is equivalent to cutting our wrists and mingling our blood, as Native Americans used to, and may still do, today.
Yes, this may seem extreme, but think about what John 15:13 says, "There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends."
Our compatriot-relationships are precious connections where we are provided the opportunity to shine love and light into another person's world.
My very first alliance was with a dear cousin of mine, when I was in my early teens.
Our kinship was a free exchange of ideas and unconditional love for one another, and became the template for future bosom buddies, and I am blessed with powerful well-wishers by virtue of this blueprint.
However, a recent association that became toxic did briefly ransack my concept of rapport.
Thank you Jesus for changing my heart, softening it, reminding me of the positives with this chum!
With Jesus' help and prayer, I reined my mind from obsessing on the negative.
I gained new insight due to this break, too: all things work for the greater glory of God and I rest easy knowing goodness was exchanged on both sides.
As I struggled to understand this person's sudden obvious lack of affinity for me, I began to realize that no one was worth trading in my approving, loving, sunny-faith in people to do right by their peers, for a nugatory, dark and cynical apathy toward everyone who is my comrade, or wanting to be an acquaintance.
On Sept 7th the reading at mass was MT18:15-20; Jesus gives specific guidelines for how to handle disputes with our persona grata!
I knew Jesus was hearing the pleas of my suffering heart!
In addition to these honeyed offerings, Jesus put another sweet balm on my fractured soul - the priest's homily - which affirmed how I was handling the situation.
I am now able to accept the fact that this confidant is not returning - and not only are they not returning - our closeness may not have been as benevolent and strong as I thought! :0(
As with all antagonistic affiliations, I'm sure the enemy was savoring all this chaos because it happened among two Catholics, with a third Catholic brought in to give the final death-blow; the former, not acceding to my bday and the latter, cancelling celebrating with me.
The Catholic church I believe in, and strive to create, has authentic, genuinely kind people;
sinners, yes, but a community with whom to emulate Christ's love, rejoicing in the relationship of our Lord and Savior, and loving one another.
If I can't find this in my local Catholic church, where am I to find it?
The world offers me nothing but more heartbreak, and no resurrection.
By this blog, I pray for those who are having a hard time making/keeping friends - God is always ON - so continue to ask for excellent companions and have faith God is going to bless you & experience God's awesomeness!
"I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world." Mother Theresa
Posts
