Today was to be swimming pool readiness day, BUT it is raining. I have 3 grandsons coming to help so maybe postponing for another day is the right thing to do!

There is something developing from this counseling work which I would never have expected–friendships. Last Saturday was our men’s breakfast at church. I haven’t gone to them for several months due to counseling during that time. Because I was giving a brief talk I had cancelled our session and the men were invited to attend the breakfast. In going to it I had several guys come and hug or shake hands who have been clients. Most of them have been clients and are no longer coming. Yet, what was awakening to me was the deep connection I felt with each case.

I have never been someone who sought friendship. I like doing things and accomplishing things so for me friendships develop from doing things with others. It isn’t until I experience something like last Saturday that I realize the relationships which had developed.

Much of my life I tried to be “good enough” to be someone’s friend only to now understand the flaw in that. Relationships build most from who we are and maybe helped by what we do. I had thought what I did was the critical factor for who I was needed to be hidden or else I’d be shunned. Not only has this awakening been true for relationships with men, but also with God and Christ Jesus. God and Jesus wanted me to understand that “being” is critical (for God knit me in my mother’s womb) and then “doing” will follow. Now at this point, the doing has the right motivation–it comes from God’s nudges rather than our emotional needs.