Reaching Out

One of the things I am most grateful for are friends who reached out to me when I was going through divorce.  For me it was an incredibly painful time, perhaps the hardest period of my life.  I have shared before my thoughts about certain individuals who were there for me and how I see them as angels.  What they did for me and for my family was nothing short of a miracle.  They were there in answer to prayer, they were there as blessings from the Lord to us.  I am ever grateful for that, for them. 

Because of the experience I have had I feel it in my heart to try and do the same.  I cannot do a lot for many of my friends as we live so far apart but I can reach out.  I can send a note just to let them know I am thinking of them and that I understand what they are going through.  My hope is that an encouraging word can lift them even if it is just a little.  I know how much that meant to me, how much it meant to feel that love and acceptance. 

I don't speak for everyone who has been divorced.  Every situation is different.  Some divorces are quite ugly, some are quite public, some are somewhat quiet and private.  I would assume that in every instance there is some feeling of loss.  For me that feeling was deep and it was painful.  As a man I should not admit this but because I am a man I will, I shed many tears.  I struggled for quite some time.  I battled a certain level of depression.  The visits, the notes, the uplifting thoughts, just knowing someone cared meant so much to me. 

As I have pondered things of this nature I find that you don't have to be going through divorce to experience pain, loneliness, depression etc.  Each of us have struggles and challenges we deal with everyday.  Life's experiences can be tough.  You know what I have found that I really enjoy doing?  I love to just put my arm around a friend and let them know that I love them.  Sometimes that is a physical thing that I can actually do and sometimes that is just in a quick note.  Well, it is a simple thing I know.  I hope it makes some sort of difference for someone, well someone in addition to me anyways.  Hey, love you.