Friends

One night this week at bedtime, Sophia was crying heartbroken sobs. When we asked her what was wrong, she said, "I have no friends." We went through her list of friends, other 3 year olds that she loves to play with, but she kept crying soul wrenching sobs... "BUT THEY'RE NOT HERE NOW!" She finally said. We all need our friendships to keep us going. Friends support us. Friends encourage us. Friends listen to our stories again and again and again. Friends know when we need to laugh, when we need peace and quiet, or when a trip for ice cream is most needed. Spiritual friends are important too, friends who pray with us and for us, friends who know how to help guide us through times of doubt and frustration. Faithful, faith-filled friends help point us to Christ who calls us friends, as he said in the Gospel of John. Remember the words of a traditional hymn: What a Friend we have in Jesus. We all need friends and we all need Christ.