What a great friend we have in Jesus! I wonder how many little girls and little boys found themselves as you did. I know I did. As far as that goes, how many still do? In my older years and as a widow I have truly learned the word "alone" with humans. What I have also learned is that I have never been alone in Christ. He has been my best friend and companion in all circumstances. As I look back, even as a child, He was always there and would place that one person in my life to walk with me for a bit. He is the Father of all fathers that protects and guides us in the ways we should go and brings us into relationship. I love the scripture from Hebrews chapter 13:5 "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you". Thank you for the reflection and encouragement.
Thank you so much for sharing this. I love what you wrote about Christ placing “that one person” in your life to walk beside you for a season. Sometimes love looks behind through the kindness of another person, and sometimes we only recognize His quiet faithfulness when we look back. Thank you for reminding us that He has never left us, never forsaken us. Your words were a beautiful encouragement to me. And thank you for walking beside me, also. You are a wonderful friend full of the love of Jesus. ❤️
Thank you!!! I am so grateful God chose him for my father! I pray that all he planted in me continues to bear him fruit to the glory of God as God brings forth fruit in me to His good pleasure.
Thank you for this sensitively written piece. I love how you bring in Amalek and tie it to Jesus and his church. It is so wonderful that he sees us, and also that he gives us eyes and hearts to see others in need.
You’re welcome! Thank you for the way you enter the piece and share how you engage with it. It is wonderful that Jesus sees us and helps us to see others with His eyes. 💝🙏
Deep and delightful. What a wonderful piece. Your father sounds like a treasure. May we each take this lesson into our own lives and may our eyes notice those truly in need of a friend.
Thank you for such beautiful encouragement. Yes he was a treasure and I am still gleaning from all he taught me. As you stated, may this be our prayer that we would all begin to notice and see through the eyes of Jesus.
Gilda, this arrived at exactly the right moment — though I suspect you'd say there's no such thing as coincidence where the Shepherd's concerned.
Shortly before I read this, a new subscriber named Candice wrote to say she felt insignificant next to the posts she was reading here, even as she found herself inspired by them. I told her we'd all started exactly where she was standing, and that this place is more accommodating than it looks from the edge. She thanked me for the encouraging word — and I thought little more of it until your father's question landed on the page: I wonder if there's anyone here who might need a friend like you.
That's precisely what was happening, without my noticing the shape of it until now. Someone standing just outside the circle. A small nudge. Nothing dramatic — parakaleō rarely is.
Thank you for putting words to something I think a lot of us do instinctively but rarely name. The line about weariness not making us love God less, but making it harder to remember He hasn't stopped loving us — that one will stay with me a while.
Gilda, thank you — that prayer means more than you know.
There's something fitting in all of this: your father's question became the parakaleō I needed to notice what I was already doing, and now your prayer extends it further still, out past both of us to someone we'll likely never properly meet. That's rather how grace seems to move — sideways, through people who don't quite see the whole shape of what they're doing until later.
Thank you for being one of the people who makes this place what it is.
You’re so welcome. And thank you for always helping me so more than at first meets the eye! I love how you said “Grace seems to move—sideways…”. What a beautiful description of how each person continues moving grace and love forward; extending it to others.
And thank you also for making this place such a lovely place as well. I am very grateful for you!
What a great friend we have in Jesus! I wonder how many little girls and little boys found themselves as you did. I know I did. As far as that goes, how many still do? In my older years and as a widow I have truly learned the word "alone" with humans. What I have also learned is that I have never been alone in Christ. He has been my best friend and companion in all circumstances. As I look back, even as a child, He was always there and would place that one person in my life to walk with me for a bit. He is the Father of all fathers that protects and guides us in the ways we should go and brings us into relationship. I love the scripture from Hebrews chapter 13:5 "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you". Thank you for the reflection and encouragement.
Thank you so much for sharing this. I love what you wrote about Christ placing “that one person” in your life to walk beside you for a season. Sometimes love looks behind through the kindness of another person, and sometimes we only recognize His quiet faithfulness when we look back. Thank you for reminding us that He has never left us, never forsaken us. Your words were a beautiful encouragement to me. And thank you for walking beside me, also. You are a wonderful friend full of the love of Jesus. ❤️
I love this Gilda, and God bless your father for fostering this in you.
Thank you!!! I am so grateful God chose him for my father! I pray that all he planted in me continues to bear him fruit to the glory of God as God brings forth fruit in me to His good pleasure.
Thank you for this sensitively written piece. I love how you bring in Amalek and tie it to Jesus and his church. It is so wonderful that he sees us, and also that he gives us eyes and hearts to see others in need.
You’re welcome! Thank you for the way you enter the piece and share how you engage with it. It is wonderful that Jesus sees us and helps us to see others with His eyes. 💝🙏
Deep and delightful. What a wonderful piece. Your father sounds like a treasure. May we each take this lesson into our own lives and may our eyes notice those truly in need of a friend.
Thank you for such beautiful encouragement. Yes he was a treasure and I am still gleaning from all he taught me. As you stated, may this be our prayer that we would all begin to notice and see through the eyes of Jesus.
Gilda, this arrived at exactly the right moment — though I suspect you'd say there's no such thing as coincidence where the Shepherd's concerned.
Shortly before I read this, a new subscriber named Candice wrote to say she felt insignificant next to the posts she was reading here, even as she found herself inspired by them. I told her we'd all started exactly where she was standing, and that this place is more accommodating than it looks from the edge. She thanked me for the encouraging word — and I thought little more of it until your father's question landed on the page: I wonder if there's anyone here who might need a friend like you.
That's precisely what was happening, without my noticing the shape of it until now. Someone standing just outside the circle. A small nudge. Nothing dramatic — parakaleō rarely is.
Thank you for putting words to something I think a lot of us do instinctively but rarely name. The line about weariness not making us love God less, but making it harder to remember He hasn't stopped loving us — that one will stay with me a while.
Oh I love that this met you at such a perfect time!! 🥰 And I will be praying for Candice. She surely has met in you a most wonderful friend!!!
I am so blessed to know this piece met you in such a beautiful way.
Gilda, thank you — that prayer means more than you know.
There's something fitting in all of this: your father's question became the parakaleō I needed to notice what I was already doing, and now your prayer extends it further still, out past both of us to someone we'll likely never properly meet. That's rather how grace seems to move — sideways, through people who don't quite see the whole shape of what they're doing until later.
Thank you for being one of the people who makes this place what it is.
You’re so welcome. And thank you for always helping me so more than at first meets the eye! I love how you said “Grace seems to move—sideways…”. What a beautiful description of how each person continues moving grace and love forward; extending it to others.
And thank you also for making this place such a lovely place as well. I am very grateful for you!