The Sacred Gift of Friendship

It was four in the morning and her voice sounded sleepy on the phone. I knew I woke her up. I could barely get out the words — pray for me — because the uncontrollable tears, the ones that make it hard to breathe, were streaming down my face. Shame consumed me and fear whispered in my ear— it’s all over. She never questioned my request, she never questioned my character, but began to call down heaven over the phone. In that moment I received a sacred gift called friendship.

Mary, the mother of Jesus, was a young teen, pregnant, and not married. She found herself in a life or death situation and needed someone to trust. Mary reached out to her cousin Elizabeth, and in her she found a sacred friend. When Elizabeth first encountered Mary, she reminded her who she really was, “blessed are you above all others…” The details of what brought Mary to her never changed Elizabeth’s opinion of her.

Today I have the privilege of guest blogging for Holly Noel Haynes and her community of readers. Click here to finish the story.

Don’t forget to join me Monday at Remade Community for #mentormonday. We will chat more about how to open up when we would rather shut down, and the most practical way to love others who are hurting.

Your friend for the journey,