with

The greatest gift I have been given lately is the gift of presence, of being with.

A sweet friend has invited me to spend time with her and her family several times over the last few months.  She prefaced the invitation with, "our house is a mess, but we would love to have you."  The mess was overlooked.  We ate dinner, played games, danced in the living room, listened to two boys sing 'Be a Man" from Mulan.  We laughed, we prayed, we talked, we cried, we hoped together. Presence.  With.

In the fall another friend offered several times to just come sit with me when I was feeling sad.  Not necessarily to talk or to offer advice.  Just to be.  With.

On Tuesdays some students and I go run and sometimes get tacos.  What a joy to run, to talk, to plan, to laugh.  To be.  With.

It is all these people being "with" that have comforted my soul.  We have walked together. Shared life together.  Lived.  With.

It is the gift that God has given us.  Emmanuel, God WITH us.  He has not left us as orphans, but has given us a counselor.  The Holy Spirit.  With.

This gift has been given to me, but it is also mine to give.  Ours to give.

With.

So we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.  1 Thessalonians 2:8