In Others’ Words: Friends

Beth VogtIn Others' Words, Life, Quotes 29 Comments

It’s the end of a long week. A busy week. A good week. And I’m tired. I wonder how you’re feeling on the other end of the blog-o-sphere. How do you feel, as you look back over your shoulder at Monday-Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday . . . yep, it’s Friday again.

I found myself thinking I had nothing to say, nothing to blog about . . . but that’s the wonderful thing about quotes. It’s not about what I’ve said. It’s stumbling across something someone else has said that makes me stop . . . pause . . . and re-read the words because something rings true. 

Henri Nouwen’s quote made me smile. Nod my head.

And think of the friends who’ve healed me.

The friends who’ve reminded me of God’s forgiveness when somehow, someway, I’ve lost sight of it.

The friends who’ve offered my aching heart silence–not words and more words.

The friends who’ve prayed for me when I can’t–or won’t.

The friends who’ve understood when I take just one more photograph of a tree or who’ve said yes when I invite them to take a walk along the beach with me–because that’s where I feel closest to God.

The friends who draw me closer to God because they know Him so very, very well.

Truly friendship is one of God’s greatest gifts.

 

In Your Words: How would you finish this sentence: A friend is that other person with whom we ____________________________.

 

Comments 29

  1. -get arrested for laughing too hard in public
    -can say one single word and lose it COMPLETELY
    -trust our secrets to…to the grave
    -say inappropriate things and laugh at our ourselves and know we’re safe
    -tell us the clothes we’re wearing are NOT doing anything for us
    -not talk to for a month and know we’re good
    -go on Survivor with and cream everyone else
    -go on Amazing Race with and if we get to a cool country, simply disappear and skip the rest of the race
    -can turn to when our world has imploded around us
    -can trust our children to if we die
    -can trust to find our spouse the right person once his/her mourning is over

    -and because I’m done being maudlin…delete the incriminating video of the Girl’s Only weekend
    You don’t think *I* would go anywhere with with my BFF and NOT get in so much trouble it would take lawyers, guns and money to get me out ?

    Unless an agent is reading this…then we’d be at a convent. 😀

  2. What a beautiful post. A friend is that other person with whom I can share my heart, the person I am on the inside and know she will still accept me.

    Loved the quote today.

  3. A friend is that other person with whom we do life. Acquaintances, passers-by, we experience life together, yeah, but a friend does life with us in all the nitty-gritty ways only someone with a heart connection can…if that makes sense. 🙂

  4. I agree with what so many others have said. A true friend is one I can truly connect with, on a heart level. Nothing held back.

    I’d love to take a walk on the beach with you, Beth. I glean so much wisdom from you, my friend.

  5. Love this quote and your words that frame it beautifully. Friends also hear what you may not know how to say or possibly help gel your thought/prayers to hear and say it.
    They love who they see you to be and help you become it more.

  6. Hi Beth,
    A friend is that other person through whom we can HEAR God’s voice.
    I just shared this same thought over on Heather Day Gilbert’s blog – those times when God seems silent, I turn to my godly friends. He always speaks audibly to me through them – they are His microphones. The worst thing I can do when I’m down is isolate myself – He’s longing to whisper to me through the words of my friends and family.

    Blessings

  7. Laugh and laugh and laugh. That’s what my friends do for me that I have trouble doing alone. Maybe I should practice laughing by myself more often, come to think of it. Anyway, this is about friends and I love my funny ones! You’re in that group.

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