Mutual Caring Between Friends

Yesterday, I was blessed with the opportunity of going out to lunch with an "old" college buddy of mine. It's been years since we have really had the chance to hang out with each other and catch up on what's going on in each of our worlds. Both of our lives are much more busy and hectic nowadays than back when we were students. We're both married and also have teenage children, plus are bombarded daily with many familial and professional responsibilities to attend to. 

Over lunch we shared intimate stories of some of our personal struggles surrounding family health concerns, the pain surrounding the death of loved ones, and other gutwrenching situations we have both been confronted with over the past few years. In the last year, he lost a grandparent, parent, and aunt. I, on the other hand, have been dealing with serious challenges related to my oldest child whom my wife and I adopted when he was almost six years of age. He has many psychological scars due to severe abuse and neglect experienced during his first few years of life. Needless to say, it has been a long, hard road for our family.

Well, it was brought home to me again yesterday in a powerful way, the inestimable value of being able to share openly and honestly with a trustworthy, caring friend concerning personal difficulties and heartaches. Sitting and enjoying a tasty meal in a local diner, we were both able to talk freely and comfortably about some of the painful realities of life that have been on our hearts and minds lately. It felt safe to be transparent with one another, rather than feeling we had to hide behind a facade of "having it all together." It was a cathartic experience for both of us--as if a pressure valve had been released to let off some built-up steam.

In Christ, we are exhorted to provide mutual support and care as we "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ" (Gal 6:2, ESV). What a wonderful blessing that is!

Note: This article originally appeared on my former blogsite (www.ryanfraser.org).