Sharing Burdens

Sharing Burdens

Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.

For months my friend’s child had been bullying others on and off the soccer field, and my friend hadn’t had a clue. It wasn’t until the coach called her up one morning and gently let her know the unkind things her daughter had been saying and doing that she became aware. Shame and disappointment flooded over her as she hung up, right after apologizing and vowing to talk with her daughter.

She then called me, crying. I tried to listen through the tears as she laid it all out. “I’m just so angry,” she said. “And embarrassed and sad. I knew my daughter was having a hard time, but I didn’t realize she was taking out her pain on other people.”

I understood. Her daughter had struggled ever since my friend had left her unhealthy marriage, and the daughter’s relationship with her father had disintegrated along with the family unit. Even so, my friend knew her daughter’s actions were not okay, no matter what was happening in their own lives.

“What should I do?” she asked.

“Let’s start by praying,” I answered. And so we did. Afterward, we talked through some helpful things she could say to her daughter and how she could rectify the situation. “She is going to be all right,” I told my friend. “You’re going to be all right too.”

She agreed as we hung up, ready to begin the work of helping her daughter stop bullying and start being a friend again.

There are many times in our lives where we can face something painful or even shameful, and whether it’s something we’ve done ourselves or something a loved one has done, it can be embarrassing to reach out to others. But it’s in these times when we can pray and seek counsel from good friends who love us and our kids. We don’t have to carry the burden alone. Letting others in on our shame and pain is part of being a good friend and showing our deep love for one another.

— Kendra

— Today’s Act of Friendship —

Tell a friend about a struggle you are having, and let them carry the burden with you.