Being Present

Being “Present”

 “When we honestly ask which persons in our lives mean the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving much advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a gentle and tender hand.  The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not-knowing, not-curing, not-healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness…makes it clear that whatever happens in the external world, being present to each other is what really matters.” –Henri Nouwen

I love this quote and most things Nouwen writes. 

In this Christmas season, I think it is important to remember that there are many who will have a difficult time because of various circumstances which have occurred in 2010.  (illness,  a loved one who has died in the past year, family  has moved away, someone has lost their home due to financial reasons and Christmas will not be the same, etc.)

When I think about myself, the friends I am most thankful for are the ones who have shared my sorrows with me. (Nouwen is right!)  They cried with me in years of infertility.   They helped Brian and I when his mother died.  They have listened when I have been discouraged.  They brought meals when we have had operations.  In short, they have been “present.”

I pray I will be a friend who can be a listening ear and not just a talking head.  During the Christmas season there will be many opportunities in the next month to share the love of Jesus and His peaceful presence………without giving a physical present.  (but simply by being “present”)

We can all ask God who might need our gentle presence and listening ear this season. 

Be present!

Bless you Big!

Thora