Cold Water and Ice Cream

"We cannot hold a torch to light another's path without brightening our own."  Ben Sweetland

I was delighted and surprised when my friend, Kathy, better know as K2 to me, started her email message with Proverbs 25:25: "Like cold water to a weary soul, so is good news from a distant land."

Well, I got ice cream for a weary soul! But that's the end of the story. It started something like this . .

Yes, I am in a distant land from all my friends. And I feel that distance too. There is email, telephone and snail mail (which I love the most), but knowing a friend is within my physical reach makes all the difference in the world.

We had an opportunity recently where I would have asked one of my friends to come by and check up on Mom. We had a distance to go and would be gone from the house a little longer than usual. But there is no one to call. No one to help.

Jerry suggested calling our new church, but I'm hesitant. I don't know anybody, and I knew Mom would feel uncomfortable having someone she doesn't know check up on her. And then there's the girls too. Everyone isn't comfortable around large dogs.

As it turned out, Mom came with us. It was a long trip, but she did ok.

Don't take for granted those who are your friends; who you depend upon, who willingly give of their time to help you. I'm a homebody and introvert and quiet to boot! so stepping out of my comfort zone and meeting people puts a weary load upon my shoulders.

As I mentioned in a previous post, I am writing those notes though. And recently, the secretary of the church thanked me and told me folks love them. Now that's an encouraging word!

Yes, I am in a distant land, but I'm still on this earth and have a part to play. I can still be found.

This is my birthday month. When the calendar turns over to March, I'm usually excited and planning breakfast, lunch and dinner dates with my friends. I celebrate all month!

This year will be different. There are no friends to plan a date with. But, my very best friend will never leave me. He's in a distant land too. One I'm going to one day. But He lives in my heart and I can find Him there. That's good news!

"You cannot say that you are friendless when Christ has said, 'Henceforth I call you not servants . . . but I have called you friends.'"                                                                                    Billy Graham

And this is where the ice cream comes in. After I wrote the above, my friend, Kathy, who started her email to me with the Proverbs verse, called to tell me she was coming up for my birthday! Her husband, Stephen, and her booked a room in DuBois, about 30 minutes from Brookville, for the sole purpose of coming up for girl talk and celebrating my birthday.

What a surprise and welcomed visit! Stephen went hiking while Kathy and I sat in their room and celebrated friendship. She even bought chocolate syrup to go with the ice cream just for me, and we played with our laptops so I could Messenger with her.

Yes, ice cream for a weary soul was good news indeed. Thank you, Kathy. Your visit was a sweet surprise!

And if that isn't enough, I'm celebrating more than my birthday in March! I'm 2 years cancer free. Thank you, God, and medicine.

                                 My favorite character and favorite food: Eeyore and Ice Cream!