AND a youth said, Speak to us of Friendship.
And he answered, saying:

Your friend is your needs answered.

He is your field which you sow with love
and reap with thanksgiving.

And he is your board and your fireside.

For you come to him with your hunger,
and you seek him for peace.

When your friend speaks his mind you
fear not the "nay" in your own mind, nor
do you withhold the "ay."

And when he is silent your heart ceases
not to listen to his heart;

For without words, in friendship, all
thoughts, all desires, all expectations are born
and shared, with joy that is unacclaimed.

When you part from your friend, you
grieve not;

For that which you love most in him may
be clearer in his absence, as the mountain
to the climber is clearer from the plain.

And let there be no purpose in friend-
ship save the deepening of the spirit.

For love that seeks aught but the dis-
closure of its own mystery is not love but
a net cast forth: and only the unprofitable
is caught.

And let your best be for your friend.

If he must know the ebb of your tide,
let him know its flood also.

For what is your friend that you should
seek him with hours to kill?

Seek him always with hours to live.

For it is his to fill your need, but not
your emptiness.

And in the sweetness of friendship let
there be laughter, and sharing of pleasures.

For in the dew of little things the heart
finds its morning and is refreshed.

-excerpt from The Prophet, by Kahlil Gibran

 
Messages that I have received from friends...

Forever Friend

Sometimes in life,
you find a special friend;
Someone who changes your life
just by being part of it.

Someone who makes you laugh
until you can't stop;
Someone who makes you believe
that there really is good in the world.
Someone who convinces you
that there really is an unlocked door
just waiting for you to open it.
This is Forever Friendship.

When you're down,
and the world seems dark and empty,
Your forever friend lifts you up in spirit
and makes that dark and empty world
suddenly seem bright and full.

Your forever friend gets you through
the hard times, the sad times,
and the confused times.
If you turn and walk away,
your forever friend follows.
If you lose your way,
your forever friend guides you
and cheers you on.

Your forever friend holds your hand
and tells you that
everything is going to be okay.
And if you find such a friend,
you feel happy and complete,
because you need not worry.
You have a forever friend for life,
and forever has no end.

_----- _
// __ \\--,
,\ //@))\ || /
\\ \ // \//
\\__\||___/
\\

'\\' /' \ "
A part of you has grown in me,
\ \\ / \
together forever we shall be,
' --_||__---'
never apart,
\\
maybe in distance,
'||
but not in heart
"~~~
||'
||'
\\

Thank you,
~Carolyn~

 
Friendship Tapestry

So often when I think of you and all the times we
shared. My heart is filled with thankfulness to have
a friend who cared enough to listen to me tell of
joys and trials. You're being there has been enough
to change my tears to smiles.
 

The subtle love between two friends is so hard to
define. It is not a square or circle or even a straight
line. It's somehow like a tapestry with colors soft
and bold yet deep within the weaving there are tiny
threads of gold.
 

Yes, rare and oh so lovely are your friendships'
threads of gold. For they will last a lifetime and
then when my story's told. Someone will hold my
tapestry and turn it towards the light and tiny
points, those threads of gold will gleam and shine
so bright. And they may think - it's just a thread like
green or red or blue- Perhaps they'll never ever
know that golden thread was you.
 

But I've been thinking lately how you've touched
my life just so - Of how you are so dear to me
- and I wanted you to know- That even if you're next
to me or though we're miles apart Your golden
thread of friendship still will weave within my heart.

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we
are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most
frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous,
talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of
God.
Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about
shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We were
born to
make manifest the glory of God within us. It's in everyone and as we let our
light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As
we are liberated from our fear
Our presence automatically liberates others.
 

Thank you,
~Lynda~

Five Finger Prayer
 
 

1. Your thumb is nearest to you.
So begin your prayers by praying for those closest to you.
They are the easiest to remember.
To pray for our loved ones is, as C.S. Lewis once said, a "sweet duty".
2. The next finger is the pointing finger.
Pray for those who teach, instruct and heal.
This includes teachers, doctors, and ministers.
They need support and wisdom in pointing others in the right direction.
Keep them in your prayers.
3. The next finger is the tallest finger.
It reminds us of our leaders.
Pray for the president, leaders in business and industry, and administrators.
These people shape our nation and guide public opinion.
They need God's guidance.
4. The fourth finger is our ring finger.
Surprising to many is fact that this is our weakest finger;
as any piano teacher will testify.
It should remind us to pray for those who are weak, in trouble or in pain.
They need your prayers day and night.
You cannot pray too much for them.
5. And lastly comes our little finger; the smallest finger of all,
which is where we should place ourselves in relation to God and others.
As the Bible says, "the least shall be the greatest among you."
Your pinky should remind you to pray for yourself.
By the time you have prayed for the other four groups,
your own needs will be put into proper perspective
now you will be able to pray for yourself more effectively.

Thank you,
~Gail~


 

A Prayer for you:
 
 

Father, I ask you to bless my friends reading this right now.
Lord, show them a new revelation of your love and power,
Holy Spirit, I ask you to minister to their spirit at this very moment.
Where there is pain, give them your peace and mercy.
Where there is self-doubting, release a renewed confidence in your ability
to work through them.
Where there is tiredness, or exhaustion, I ask you to give them patience,
understanding, and strength as they learn subsmission to your leading.
Where there is spritual stagnation, I ask you to renew them by revealing
your nearness, and by drawing them into greater intimacy with you.
When there is fear, reveal your love, and release to them your courage.
Where there is a sin blocking them, reveal it,
and break its hold over my friends' life.
Bless their finances, give them greater vision, and raise up leaders, and
friends to support, and encourage them.
Give each of them discernment to recognise the demonic forces around them,
and reveal to them the power they have in you to defeat it.
I ask you to do these things in Jesus' name.

In Christian love.
~Eternity~
1999