Bubbles

Two really fun uncles + soap = LOADS OF FUN!

And lots of wasted soap!!!

Friends

Job 2:11-13
(11) When Job's three friends, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite, heard about all the troubles that had come upon him, they set out from their homes and met together by agreement to go and sympathize with him and comfort him.
(12) When they saw him from a distance, they could hardly recognize him; they began to weep aloud, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads.
(13) Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was.

Yesterday morning Caleb and I read the first 2 chapters of Job. We talked about all that the evil one did to Job and how Job chose to bless the name of the Lord. Then we got to the end of the second chapter of Job we read about his three friends. I read over those three verses several times and boy did they speak loud to me! I questioned myself...am I that kind of friend? Would I be one who would sit for 7 days and 7 nights on the ground in silence just to be there to support a friend in dispair.

I began to to think back over a friend from the past who did just this. We had just moved to Seminary, Shannon had gone away for a week to finish his job, the kids were at my moms, and I was alone in a new place. I awoke to find I was having a miscarriage. I had never experienced this and didn't know what to do. I called a sweet friend of mine who lived about 20 minutes away. She said she would come immediately, leaving her family behind. Honestly, I just wanted to be alone, to grieve, cry, scream. She refused and said that I didn't need to be alone and she came. She just sat there and cried with me. She talked with me and just listened to me. I think she probably would have torn her clothes and thrown dust on her head had it been culturally appropriate! Jennifer, I will never forget what you did on that day for me and will always be forever grateful!

We live in an age of busyness and going and sitting on the ground for 7 days and 7 nights can be an inconvenience. Think of all the work these men missed because of their absent. Think of the workload the wives had to take on to let their husbands minister to Job. My friend's husband went to work very late that day because she came to be by my side. Her children woke up asking, "Where is mommy?"

I pray that you will think about the kind of friend you are. I believe God wants us to all be an Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar kind of friends.

A friend loves at all times. Proverbs 17:17