I met a friend today who I had not seen for eighteen years. The first time we met in 1989 she had come to Zimbabwe from America with a handful of people as missionaries. Over the years she became one of my very best friends. We studied the bible with people and watched as many people gave their lives to Christ. We fell in and out of love with various brothers lol! We forged friendships that would last a life time.
She decided to return to the USA after four years primarily because she was unwell but did not know what the problem was. Back in the States they discovered that she had Multiple Sclerosis. Over the years she lost her ability to walk and is now in a wheel chair. She faces challenges with her speech and her sight.
Seeing her and spending time with her today was incredible. The Joy that exudes from her is overwhelming. The friend i saw today is the same friend I knew all those many years ago. Her disability does not define her at all. She keeps in touch with people over the internet and has made us all come together. No one has impacted me like the way my friend impacted me today. Surely this level of joy and gratitude could not have been achieved without Christ and without the love of Christians.
I asked her how she learned to cope with her condition and she said that she is grateful for having gone through this because it has taught her compassion for others. So today I learned to be grateful for everything that I go through. I learned to be grateful for all I have and what I don't have. I learned today what the bible means when it talks about being joyful in all circumstances and also that we are over comers.
My friend once again has impacted my life and not just impacted it but changed it. Holy Father help us to have this same impact on peoples lives. Let our lives touch others not by the words we speak but by the lives we live.
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