Note: I actually had this written before Matthew Perry, beloved Friends cast member passed away. RIP Matthew Perry/Chandler Bing
“I’ll be there for you, when the rain starts to pour. I’ll be there for you, like I’ve been there before”. Did anyone else just sing that in their head? These are lyrics from the theme song to my favorite TV show, Friends. If you haven’t seen it (really?!), it’s a show about friends who are there for each other in good and bad times and doing life together. To me, it’s a reminder we need a community or at least a person around us so we aren’t doing life alone. It doesn’t have to be friends you are with non-stop like the show (most of us won’t have 24/7 to be with friends). It simply needs to be someone near or far you can text or DM if you are struggling.
The morning my dog died last week I felt very alone. My husband was out of town so I had to put on my big girl pants and deal with things. Then, my dad asked if he could come to my house and help me with the burial process.
That question meant more to me than I could have imagined. It meant I was not alone and someone was down in the dirt with me (literally). Someone was shouldering the burden with me.
The next day I walked into church for my covenant small group and I was met with hugs from my group. They didn’t try to fix it, they were just there for me hugging me. They had also been there for me the day before offering prayer as I went throughout the day.
“So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.”
1 Thessalonians 5:11 NLT
As hard as it may be, open yourself up to others, letting someone into your inner circle. We are taught to be independent and do things on our own, but it is so important to allow others to help us also. There are people who want to help you so why not let them?
How can you open yourself up to friendship and allow someone to shoulder your burdens with you? A short text or call? Maybe simply saying yes when someone offers to help?
And how can you be the friend who reaches out and is there for someone? A smile or hug? A text offering to help? Dropping food off on doorstep when someone is going through hard time?
Let’s make real community this week friends. If you don’t have someone in person I would love to be there virtually for you. DM me and I would love to have a conversation.
Melissa in progress 