“Philemon, your love has given me great joy and encouragement” (Phlm.1:6).
“Rufus’ mother has been a mom to me too” (Rom.16:13).
“Onesiphorus wasn’t ashamed of my chains and refreshed me” (2Tim.1:16).
“Phoebe has blessed many people, including me” (Rom.16:1-2).
“Timothy cares for people, including me, like no one else” (pp Phil.2:20).
“Titus was a conduit of your comfort at just the right time” (pp 2Cor.7:6)
Heavenly Father, Of all the good gifts you give us, the best come wrapped in human flesh—beginning with the gift of your beloved Son, Jesus. Thank you, for sending Jesus to us and for us. But you didn’t stop with Jesus. We all know very gifted people, but your gift of certain people to us makes it so easy to be grateful during this Thanksgiving season.
The Apostle Paul listed many friends for whom he was grateful—sisters and brothers who became grace-in-the-flesh to him. Abba, thank you for our grace-friends as well. Their compassion-antenna and Spirit-sensitivity serve us in timely and uncanny ways. Their encouragement is life-giving, heart-refreshing, and perspective-restoring. Like Paul himself, they don’t just give us the Gospel and verses, but their heart and lives as well (1Thess.2:8).
Their vulnerability about their own struggles and weaknesses makes it easier for us to own ours. Their eye contact, listening, and kindness “preach” the Gospel to us more clearly than most pulpiteers. They always seem to know when to pursue us, and when to push in without being “pushy.”
As Alison Krauss sings, They “say it best when they say nothing at all”—for sometimes words get in the way of what we need the most—the quieting presence of your love. Father, thank you blessing us with such friends. Increasingly make us this kind of friend to our friends. So Very Amen.
