Sharon, I love that.  You're a great friend, even though I don't know you
really well.  We haven't talked in a long time.

Cec

-----Original Message-----
From: The Electronic Church [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Michelle Pryor
Sent: Saturday, June 24, 2006 12:52 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Friend

This is a wonderfully writen piece and it is all very true. You certainly
sound like a great friend.
Shelly

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Sharon Hooley" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, June 23, 2006 11:17 PM
Subject: Re: Friend


> Phil,
>
> The thing I'm learning to focus on is being a friend.  I say that all of
> you, (mankind) are my friends.  Even if you want to be my enemy, that's
your
> choice, not mine.  I will not look down on you, even if you have the worst
> of disabilities and/or an inability to communicate, or because of how you
> look, think or behave.    If you confess your foibles, I will not belittle
> you or give up on you.  I will apologize when I say or do anything wrong
and
> has hurt you.  I will also have the courage to set boundaries, saying no
> when things are going too far.  Yes, there may be times/situations in
which
> I cannot, in good conscience, associate with you if you are deliberately
> hurting yourself and others, but even then, I would tell you that I am
still
> your friend, with your best interest in mind, and that being a friend does
> not always mean that I condone what you are doing.  When your eyes are
> opened to the truth and you respond in repentance, I will be there for
you.
> If we have, or are forming, a healthy relationship, even the little things
I
> do can make a big difference for you.  I will support your good interests.
> For instance, If you like to go shopping, I will take the time to shop
with
> you, if you want the company.  Or, if you can't drive, and I was able to,
I
> would invite you, and pick you up and do things with you regularly that
you
> enjoy.  I will call you at least once a week, even if only to ask how
you're
> doing and what's going on in your life. If you enjoy joking around,
> talking/doing goofy things, and teasing and being teased and laughed with,
> Iwill do that with you too.  When you are down and things aren't going
well,
> I will listen and try to stand in your shoes, being sorry that you are
> hurting, learning to bear your burdens, as we are told to do in the
> Scriptures.  I will introduce you to my own best friend, who will always
be
> available, always dependable, never tired or cranky, and can be all
> personalities that I need Him to be.  He knows me the most, understands me
> the most, yet loves me the most, and can do anything that needs to be done
> in my life.  He will be that kind of friend for you too, if you accept His
> friendship and do what He commands, as He told His disciples in the book
of
> John.  If you get to know and love Him, He, Jesus Christ, will take you
and
> me to our eternal home., where we will have everlasting joy in His
presence.
> We'll never have to say goodbye.
>
> Sharon
>