FRIENDSHIP
Writings from the book the "Prophet" by: Kahlil Gibran 1883-1931
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 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 friendship save
the deepening of the spirit.
For love that seeks aught but the disclosure 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.
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Now that was written a long time ago. What is friendship to you?
What do you need in a friend and what does your friend need from you?
I went on an odyessey recently back to my old home town where I went to
high school. I left right after graduating high school in 1970 and didn't return for 30 yrs. I lost
track of my friends. I rekindled the fire of friendship and love when I traveled
north to be with them again three dacades later. They were full of smiles and joy because my
cup is running over these days. It was as if love layed dormain in a deep cellar only for the door
to swing open and in came the light of this day.
My best friend for over 30 years has been Jesus Christ and my pastor, Brother Kenneth Phillips for he is my earthbound
shepard of my soul. My pastor and Jesus Christ are my friends that sticks
closer to me than a brother because they love my soul. God lives in my soul and His love fills my heart
with happiness. It's just unspeakable joy and words could do this no justice!
The Lord has kept my soul and my heart on an eternal path, but who holds me
now physically? As a human and a "woman" I need to be held. I long to be embraced
and loved. I pour out my feelings in songs and in poems. I let my friendly fire burn
in my eyes so I can light a way for love to pass through me into others needing the
same as me.
We all need love and we need to be held.
May the Lord be your shepard
and you never want.
May He make you lie down in green pastures,
and lead you beside quiet waters,
May He restore your soul.
May He guide you in the paths of righteousness
Even though you may walk through a dark valley
even the shadow of death pass over you...
You will say :I will fear no evil, for the Lord is with me".
May you hold His staff and rod and let them comfort you.
May you sit down at a table, a feast prepared for you in the
presence of our watchful enemies eyes.
May you be annointed with oil and your cup overflow all the
days of your life,
and may you dwell in the house of the Lord forever....
This is my prayer for you today as well as for myself.
Rich blessings to you,
Nancy G
