A Friend in Need.....

Today I went to a funeral.  I had met the deceased person exactly twice in my life and we maybe exchanged a grand total of 10 words.  However, his wife has become a very dear family friend, my children call her their spare grandmother.

I had lots of things I could have done today, things that I would have liked to have crossed off of my to do list, but I went to the funeral of my friend's husband.  I wanted to support her in any way that I could.  I arrived at the funeral home and saw an acquaintance, someone from church who is a widow of just over a year.  I said hi to her and she started to tear up.  She grabbed my hand and said, I am so glad to see you, I need a friend right now.  I held her hand throughout the service, just sitting quietly, being her friend, and letting her be mine.  Afterwards, when it was time to go to the cemetery  I asked if she was going, she was rather emotional and said, I shouldn't be driving in my state.  I said, okay, I'll drive.  She was a little taken aback.  Really, she said, do you have time?  I have to pick up my kids from school later, I said, but until then, I will do anything you need me to do.

We went to the cemetery and then to the reception, where we sat together.  We chatted the entire time, sharing stories of our lives, our children, our faith, life in general.  She kept thanking me for being there for her.  I told her no, thank you for being there.  I had had a rocky start to 2013, nothing major but rough, nonetheless.  When she saw me and said, oh, I am so glad to see you, I need a friend, well, I needed one at that moment, too.

God has amazing ways in which he works.  What started as a very sad day turned into something so uplifting, I can't really explain it properly.  By helping someone else, by having that other person let me help her, I got such peace and fulfillment.  Perhaps it's true, the newly deceased is an angel in heaven and is up there looking down on us, giving us who we need, when we need them.

I left my house this morning with no expectations.  I was going to support a friend.  Not only did I support one friend, but I turned an acquaintance into a friend today.  I am the lucky one, I really received so much today, all because I made the effort to do something nice for someone else.