My friend...

My friend had a very dark day yesterday....when I saw her today I was moved to tears. I recognized her pain, I recognized the pent up tears, and the lack of breath. It was then a miraculous thing happened. We connected.

She called me later and I realized how deep our connection had become. I could say to her without hesitation, "I know what you are going through. I have been there, and I am now here." I was humbled when she confided that had I not shared my journey with her earlier, she doesn't think she would have been able to talk to me about her pain.

It was like watching a red carpet unrolling before dignitaries, it was like the yellow brick road in the wizard of oz. It was as if my journey up until today was individual steps and in one moment, during one conversation those steps became a connected pathway. A road that actually was leading somewhere.

Once a long time ago I walked a road in New England with my friend, Jerry. I was struggling and he shared that the only purpose for my struggle might be that one day I would be walking that very road with a friend and I would be able to say, "I know what you are going through." Less than a year later, God gave me that exact opportunity. I was literally walking on that exact road, nearly in the exact spot and heard myself saying, "I know what you are going through."

I find myself hearing Jerry all over again today. Though this time the location was not exact, and my words were not identical....I knew what she was feeling.Thank you God. Hold my friend in the hollow of your hand, protect her fully, heal her completely, grow her daily, and assure her of your promise, "He who has begun a good work in you will carry it unto completion..."

I love you my friend!