A Friend

The sofa in our bedroom was covered with clean laundry just waiting to be put away. It just needed 30 minutes of my time, but I didn’t have it. Folding laundry was not anywhere on my list that day.

A girlfriend called to check up on me. I cannot remember if she sensed something on the phone, or just knew after we talked that she needed to show up at my door.

I was so embarrassed when she saw the unfolded laundry. I was tired so the shame probably did not hit as deeply as it normally would have. I was used to keeping the front rooms neat and clean, but our room quite often was the place where that tidiness stopped, especially in between hospital visits and during Chris’ Air Force deployments. Oh yes, it was a real situation!

So when my girlfriend stepped into our room and offered to fold my laundry, I could only tear up. It was never offered before because my facade of having it all together had kept most friends at arm’s length. But I needed someone to lean on that day.

Have you ever had clean laundry pile up in your home because there was a child who demanded all of your attention? Have you seen a friend struggling to do life but stands upright as if all is well?

What did you do? How did you reach out to check on them? Was there a weight that you were able to lift?

Well, my girlfriend did that for me that day when she just folded laundry. It was the act, but also the time I shared with her as we did it together. She lifted a weight. She knows she ministered to me because I told her that day, and still tell her when that moment comes to mind. I had someone to lean on that day.

I pray you have a shoulder to lean on. I also pray you will choose to be that friend. It is who I want to be for the rest of my life because of what she made me feel that day. No shame, just relief.

Listening Library: Lean on Me (Crystal Lewis)

https://youtu.be/olmGO5Bggr0

“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:13 NIV)

Lean on Me

There's a man
 Standing on the corner
 He has no home
 He has no food
 And his blue skies are gone

Can't you hear him cryin' out

And there's a girl
 Searching for a father and a friend
 Praying that the storm someday will end
 But instead of walking away
 Open up your heart and say

I am here
 You don't have to worry
 I can see your tears
 I'll be there in a hurry when you call
 Friends are there to catch you when you fall
 Here's my shoulder, you can lean on me

Oh, there's a child
 Who is sick and begging to be free
 But there is no cure for his disease
 He looks up to his mother and
 As she holds his hand
 Prayin' that someday
 The sun will shine again
 And the pain will end

I am here
 You don't have to worry
 I can see your tears
 I'll be there in a hurry when you call
 Friends are there to catch you when you fall
 Here's my shoulder, you can lean on me

Tell me, how can I, how can I love Jesus
 When I've never seen His face
 Yeah, I see you dying
 And I turn and walk away
 
 

So hold my hand
 Let me take you to a friend of mine
 He's waiting just to ease your troubled mind
 He loves you more than you'll ever know
 Instead of walking away
 Open up your heart and say
 
 

Here's my shoulder, you can lean on me
 Here's my shoulder, you can lean on me

Kirk Franklin, Lean On Me lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group