The amiable silence

Having A over for an afternoon of company, chattering or even just amiable silence I hope could lend some healing to the both of us.

For my healing, it is to learn to trust, accept and help a friend again. Having been flared up at a few months ago for giving 'too much' advice on her family matters, I have been taken aback, ashamed, apologetic and eventually set within my heart to be friendly but not be trusting towards this friend again. Unpredictable and turmultous relationships are not my forte, usually best dealt with by me by avoidance stemming from the plain hardening of the heart. I have never spoken to, speak frankly anymore with or even just to speak of people who have hurt me, especially ex-boyfriends. Well, somehow I still think it is the 'smart' thing to do.  Why lay fresh to the surface that which you cannot change or help.

Anyhow, for A, I do not know what it is like to have lost such a close one as a mother. The inevitaboility of the mortality of loved ones (hmm, extremely few there are) greatly frighten me actually. But I do know what it feels like to have paranoia-to be intensely afraid of something whimsical, or seemingly innocuous, or just to have dark thoughts planted firmly in one's head. I just pray that this time of reading the bible, praying, talking, cooking and just to be kept occupied will go some way in helping her get back on her feet. For a person with such a calm exterior as her, to be in this state, to have 'lost control', must be devastating. Kali two days ago in church when asked to speak about church-planting, had said that God multiplies the small things:

"Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.." (Eph 3:20)

I pray that whatever 'small' things that we have done together, like reading bits of verses, praying and even being in silence together, will indeed go a long way in battling tha vast spiritual warfare that is waging inside her now.