The Magic Of Just Being With

Good morning…

“I am feeling the magic of just being with, fully present,” I email a friend whose father passed away this year. This week I am hanging out with my dad in Ohio as we support my mom, who is slowly recovering in the hospital from a life-threatening infection. “Keeping quiet. Letting things unfold. Trusting God with it all. Good lessons for much of life,” I reflect.

“Praying for you Sue,” she replies. “Truly some of my most cherished memories with my Dad were in the hours we had to wait for lab work results before proceeding with chemo. A few hours to just grab a bite, share some more childhood memories (his and mine), just come alongside and be present. Be present. The greatest gift we can give.”

“Listening is the highest form of love,” she reminds me. “Amen. XO.”

Just come alongside.

Be present, fully present.

Share love through listening.

These are the greatest gifts we can give each other.

God is the Father who is full of mercy. And he is the God of all comfort. He comforts us every time we have trouble, so that we can comfort others when they have trouble. We can comfort them with the same comfort that God gives us (2 Corinthians 1:3b-4, ICB).

Offering comfort in the midst of troubles, we are empowered to come alongside, fully present, listening to each other, just as God comes alongside, fully present, listening to us. We pass along the comfort of God. This is the magic of just being with.

…Sue…