Lean On Me

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."  Matthew 11:28-30

An invitation for the weary to rest.  An exchange of yokes.  A yoke that is effortless and offers relief.

I'm sitting here tonight longing to remove a yoke.  A yoke of pain and discomfort.  One that has become tiresome due to it's unrelenting weight and presence.  When something endures endlessly it wears us down.

My precious friend Diane has been a good soldier through her surgery and recovery.  She has tolerated ache and annoyance and has put up with the hardship and challenges induced by the limitations presented by the operation.  Tonight finds her hurting and not feeling well.  Although she tries to remain positive, I believe too that her heart is discouraged.

My dear friend has given continually over the past six months.  She has poured all her energy and strength into encouraging me and refusing to let me settle for anything short of victory.  When I would come to her in great need, she never refused me or turned me away.  She offered hope, love, prayer and faith.

Always quick with wit, she can turn tears into laughter, disappointment into joy and fear into confidence.  She has a gift of being able to minister cheer to a broken heart, bringing reassurance that everything is going to be alright.  When doubt wants to steal the expectancy that all will turn out well, Diane refuses to believe anything less than the promises found in God's Word.  She has let me lean on her, and I have leaned hard.

"Friends are the pillars on your porch.  Sometimes they hold you up, sometimes they lean on you, and sometimes it's just enough to know that they are standing by."

Today she needs us to stand by.  She needs an infusion of comfort and love.  My arms are too short to cross the miles and embrace my bestest friend.  Her "boo boo" is sore and swollen.  The pain is merciless and incessant.  I long to visit her, but the anticipated trip has been cancelled due to my lab results that indicate an immune system too at risk for travel.  Separated by distance, two little girls sit tonight and wish their Father would make a way for hands to reach.

Friends, will you pray for Diane.  Although this first surgery has been completed, like me, she sits in the middle of her miracle.  She visits her Doctor again in two days and further upcoming treatment will be discussed.  Will you pray that her Doctor will have wisdom for the operation that is yet to come and that the timing of her hospital stay will be the best for her recovery and healing.

Tonight we are leaning...leaning on the arms of One who carries us.
Love ya my friend, and holding your paw.
Standing in the gap for "Hope", Diane,
"Faith", Joy