But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree; and he asked that he might die, saying, “It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am no better than my fathers.”
And he lay down and slept under a broom tree; and behold, an angel touched him, and said to him, “Arise and eat.”
And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank, and lay down again.
And the angel of the LORD came again a second time, and touched him, and said, “Arise and eat, else the journey will be too great for you.”
And he arose, and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb the mount of God.
1 Kings 19: 4-8

God send these angels to me in my hours of need.
And let me be such an angel to others when their turn comes.

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Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.
Matt.10: 31

My friend Brenda died today. Suddenly. Totally out of the blue. We don’t know yet how or why, but it really doesn’t matter. All I know is I loved her and already there is a gaping hole in my life. I was looking forward to being retired like her, thinking of the galleries we’d visit not to mention the more mundane cups of coffee.
Brenda was indeed of more value than many sparrows.
May flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.

With God.

Gabriel Fauré – Requiem : ‘In Paradisum’

Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is easy, that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.
For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
Matt.7: 13-14

We’re always happy to get something for nothing. But if we get something for nothing too often, we finish up not valuing it at all. Anything of value is worth the effort – we can take just pride in our efforts when we work hard at studies, apply ourselves at work and get a promotion, save to buy a house, car or even a special holiday. Most of all, the really worthwhile relationships are those we work at, there’s no other way to do it – with family, friends, God. We can number our friends on Facebook – 100, 200, 700, 1,000. But these are people we might know, or they might be friends of friends …. of friends. Or passing acquaintances. Not unpleasant, but superficial. True friends, the ones who will stand by us through thick and thin, come through us being there for them. It’s a whole lot more than clicking ‘like’. We need to really know the other in the depths of their being through spending time with them, listening to them, sharing with them. It takes effort and it’s not always easy. But the rewards are great.
Thank you God for the friends I have. Bless them for the efforts they put into knowing and loving me.