Friendship

Friendships are interesting things. Some are lifelong, and are there because they've been there forever. They are dear and they fit like an old pair of jeans. Some friendships are new and fun and unencumbered by trial and unmarred by history. All have goodness in them. But some surprise you with special moments you won't ever forget.

We received an email from dear friends of mine - Mike and Mae Ward - from Vancouver. These were the first two people I was fortunate enough to call my first friends at church. We did so much together in the first days, before they had kids, before my job took me away from the city for long stretches, before I moved away. We'd shared many struggles, dreams, prayers and laughter over the years since we met. 

When Charl was diagnosed with cancer, they - among many others - prayed for him regularly, and let us know that we were in their thoughts and prayers.  Mike and Mae only met Charl the day of the wedding, but they considered him a brother and a friend all the same.

Today something out of the ordinary happened. Mike decided to really walk through this with Charl - a man he only met once, but for whom he cared deeply anyway. He decided to shave his head in solidarity for a friend going through cancer.

Words fail to express what this means to me and Charl. Or perhaps I just don't have skill to figure out which words to express it. Mike gave Charl an unexpected gift of friendship, solidarity and love. And it means so much.
Thanks Mike.