Friendship!

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

(Proverbs 17:17)

Much can be said on the topic of friendship. The Scriptures (especially the Wisdom Books) are rich with it...

The following quote by C.H. Spurgeon, often called Prince of Preachers, has recently become a favorite:

Friendship is one of the sweetest joys of life. Many might have failed beneath the bitterness of their trial had they not found a friend.

During the twenty months of Jona’s battle with cancer – and especially during the last, most difficult month – we, as extended family, were blessed with many such friends. And we thank God for you.

We’re thankful for your continued prayers. The following note, received via FaceBook in late May, has been a special blessing to me personally. I must admit that when I first read it, I even cried tears of thankfulness...

I was thinking of you the other night at midnight and praying and remembering Jona’s challenging nights. I wondered if maybe nights are especially hard for you now because everything is quiet, and thoughts can swirl, and memories are not quiet. We ache with you and his parents and brother for the empty places and are praying that God will help.

What I wrote in response is still true for us now:

Your note was a great encouragement... Nights continue to be very hard. Thoughts do swirl, and memories of difficult moments tend to sharpen in focus. The reality of it all is just now beginning to sink in...

I’m so thankful for Jona’s testimony – for God’s amazing grace in his life. I sorrow not for him but for his family, for myself, for my children who lost such an amazing cousin, for my six-month-old son who lost such a mentor...

God is giving grace and strength and comfort, but our hearts ache. The empty places are becoming more and more noticeable now...

“Thank-you!” to all of you who have loved at all times and been brothers and sisters to us in our time of adversity. Thank-you for praying! Please continue!