What a joy to welcome into our home two lovely friends Envoy and Mrs, Daniel Hui from Hong Kong this morning! They are such warm, positive Christians who truly love the Lord. They are salvationists of Kowloon East Corps, (it was called the Yau Tong Corps when were were there) I recall visiting the Corps many times during our time in Hong Kong. Every visit brought us blessing.
Although they are here for only three days, they are spending one whole day today just to visit old friends like Mrs. Colonel Alice Lau and Lieut. Colonel and Mrs. Tan Thean Seng and us.
I've been pondering over the matter of relationships. Healthy relationships need to be formed and cultivated through mutual respect, unconditional love, acceptance and forgiveness. Relationships grow in depth, meaning and stability over time. This is true in all our relationships in all areas of our lives - our friendships, our family relationships, marriage relationship, relationship and fellow church members.
Take a look at nature. Plants for example grow in relationship to their environment. They are rooted in the soil, they reach out to the sunlight, they depend on insects for their pollination, they depend on the wind to spread their seeds. Pull them out of the soil, they wither and die. Block them from the sunlight, they cannot grow. To survive they need to be connected with the environment. They cannot survive in isolation. So do we humans we need to stay connected to the Lord and to our friends who support each other.
I've been thinking, the bells have stopped ringing, but the real work of Christmas goes on. We go on to make, repair and build relationships. There are many lonely people who need that visit, that telephone call, that kind note to make them feel, there are people who care.
So I thank God for my friends, genuine friends whom the Lord sends into our lives.
I end with the singing of an old song:
Friendship with Jesus, fellowship divine, O what blessed sweet communion
Jesus is a Friend of mine.
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